The American Society of Hospital Pharmacists, the national professional Our members have a strong interest in this legislation: they wish to see National Council of Senior Citizens 925 15th Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20005 Phone (Area Code 202) 347-8800 As you know, the National Council of Senior Citizens has We now know that a compromise on these two issues has been Senior citizens do stand to benefit greatly from an abbreviated new drug application process. One-half of the top ten selling drugs, many of which are consumed by the elderly, could soon be available in generic form. Examples include: INDERAL for cardiac conditions, DYAZIDE and LASIX for high blood pressure and INDOCIN for arthritis. Therefore, on behalf of our 4,500 clubs and the 4,000,000 seniors we represent, I urge you to support the ANDA/Patent Term Extension bill as is. Any attempt to amend the legislation will not only jeopardize our support, but also undermine the entire compromise package. Thank you. JC/S/1c4 Sincerely, Jacob Cloynan Jacob Clayman President First Vice President, Dr. Mary C. Mulvey, Providence, Rhode Island Second Vice President, George J. Kourpias. Washington, D.C. Fourth Vice President, Dorothy Walker, Detroit, Michigan General Counsel, Robert J. Mozer, New York INTERNATIONAL UNION, UNITED AUTOMOBILE, AEROSPACE & AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT WORKERS OF AMERICA-UAW It is our understanding that the House may take up the Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDA) - Patent Term Extension legislation next week. The UAW believes this bill represents a reasonable compromise, which will provide significant benefits both to consumers and to drug manufacturers. The UAW therefore urges you to support this important, bipartisan legislation, and to oppose any weakening amendments. The legislation would accomplish two basic objectives. First, the ANDA provisions would extend the procedures which are currently used to approve generic copies of pre-1962 drugs to post-1962 drugs. Currently there are no procedures for approving generic copies of post-1962 drugs. This has greatly inhibited the development of generic equivalents for many of the most popular drugs on the market. Under the proposed legislation, generic copies could immediately be developed on over 150 drugs that have been approved since 1962, at a savings to consumers of approximately $1 billion over twelve years. The UAW has long been a supporter of measures which would increase the availability of generic drugs. We believe the ANDA provisions would greatly expand the availability of generics, and thus provide substantial saving to all consumers, and especially to the elderly who often must spend a large portion of their limited resources on drugs. Second, the patent term extension provisions would extend the patents which manufacturers have on various drugs. However, the bill places outer limits on the permissible patent extensions, as well as the total period of time a drug may be under patent. With these safeguards, the legislation, in our judgment, strikes a reasonable balance between the needs of the drugs manufacturers and consumers. Opponents of the ANDA-Patent Term Extension legislation may attempt to offer. Your consideration of our views on this important legislation will be appreciated. MERICAN STATE EDERATION AFL-CIO MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES AFSCME. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees 1625 L Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 Telex 89-2376 August 2, 1984 Gerald W. McEntee William Lucy Secretary Treasurer Vice Presidents Ronald C. Alexander Dominic J. Badolato Joseph Bolt Joseph M. Bonavita Robert A. Brindza Columbus, Ohio Ernest B. Crofoot Baltimore, Md. Steve Culen Chicago, Ill Lawrence V. DeCresce Columbus, Ohio Albert A. Diop New York, NY. Danny Donohue Hauppauge, NY James Glass Lansing, Mich Victor Gotbaum New York, NY Blondie P. Jordan Edward J. Keller Joseph J. Kreuser Menomonee Falls, Wisc Faye D. Krohn Kasota, Minn. Marilyn LeClaire Columbiaville, Mich. George Masten Joseph E. McDermoll William L. McGowan Donald G. McKee Jack Merkel Bettye W. Roberts Russell K. Okata George E. Popyack Redwood City, Calif. Earl Stout Garland W. Webb Maynard White Dear Representative: Next week the House will consider H.R. 3506, the ANDA-Patent Term Extension bill. AFSCME urges you to support this bill without any weakening amendments. The bill that you will consider is a carefully designed compromise. We believe that this bill is needed to place less expensive generic drugs on the market. bill will be of great benefit to all consumers particularly to senior citizens - - The and in the years ahead. FDA has estimated the consumer savings to be $1 billion over the next decade. There will be increased competition in government contracts and there will therefore be a savings to the Federal and state governments in the delivery of health care. The passage of any amendments to this bill could negate a very delicate compromise in the present bill. We urge you to vote against any amendments and for final passage. WBW:mlm in the public service Sincerely, Wears whe William B. Welsh Director of Legislation The American Association of Retired Persons would like to thank you for your efforts on behalf of H.R. 3605, the Drug Price Competition Act. Because this bill will facilitate the availability of low priced generic drugs to consumers, AARP has endorsed this compromise legislation. Our position has been that since H.R. 3605 is already a compromise, we would oppose any efforts to weaken it through amendment by either creating obstacles to approval of generic drugs or by insulating brand name companies from competition with additional patent extension. You are to be commended for your leadership in opposition to such amendments in the Judiciary Committee. We are hopeful for quick passage of H.R. 3605 on the House floor as reported out of the Committee, and are confident that we can rely on your continued support. Once again, your thoughtful attention to this matter is appreciated. Notional Headquarters 1909 K Street NW Washington DC 20049 (202) 872 4700 |