US generic drugmakers body urges USTR to adhere to spirit of TPP accord signed in May

The US Generic Pharmaceutical Association (GPhA) and its Biosimilars Council remain hopeful that discussions in Atlanta translate to Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) language that promotes access to treatments for patients all over the world. A TPP that encourages competition from more affordable medicines can help lower health spending, the GPhA said.

Competition in the biologics marketplace through the creation of a pathway that ensures access to safe, effective and affordable biosimilars will reduce health costs for patients, governments and the entire healthcare system. The GPhA says it shares the health cost concerns of the current administration and strongly agrees in principle with proposed exclusivity reductions - extending monopolies on biologic medicines is simply not sustainable.

That is why GPhA urges USTR to adhere to the letter and spirit of the May 10th agreement’s provisions regarding exclusivity for biologic medicines. Embracing the precedent set by the May 10th agreement allows the USA to remain globally competitive while establishing balanced intellectual property provisions among trading partners. It is also critical that this agreement avoids locking the USA in a policy position that limits Congress from modifying US pharmaceutical law in the future.