Curbs on patent thicketing welcomed by campaigners

12 July 2024

The US Senate has unanimously passed the Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Act of 2023 (S-150).

This action is aimed at curbing abuses of the patent system by tackling pharmaceutical companies’ perceived ‘patent thicketing’ of biologics.

This practice occurs when pharma companies file numerous additional patents to create what opponents have called an impenetrable "thicket" around a drug product, forcing potential generic or biosimilar entrants to navigate through each patent in costly litigation before they can reach the market, effectively extending the brand-name drug's monopoly and keeping prices high.

This article is accessible to registered users, to continue reading please register for free.  A free trial will give you access to exclusive features, interviews, round-ups and commentary from the sharpest minds in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology space for a week. If you are already a registered user please login. If your trial has come to an end, you can subscribe here.

Login to your account

Become a subscriber

 

£820

Or £77 per month

Subscribe Now
  • Unfettered access to industry-leading news, commentary and analysis in pharma and biotech.
  • Updates from clinical trials, conferences, M&A, licensing, financing, regulation, patents & legal, executive appointments, commercial strategy and financial results.
  • Daily roundup of key events in pharma and biotech.
  • Monthly in-depth briefings on Boardroom appointments and M&A news.
  • Choose from a cost-effective annual package or a flexible monthly subscription
The Pharma Letter is an extremely useful and valuable Life Sciences service that brings together a daily update on performance people and products. It’s part of the key information for keeping me informed

Chairman, Sanofi Aventis UK



Today's issue

Company Spotlight





More Features in Biotechnology