By Donald Zuhn --
Last month, we reported on the lobbying expenditures for a number of biotech and pharmaceutical companies in the first quarter of 2008. Included on our list were Cephalon, Inc., which spent $512,000, Abbott Laboratories, which spent $880,000, and Amgen Inc., which spent $2.5 million. That list continues to grow with additional reports regarding first quarter spending by three other companies.
Yesterday, Forbes.com reported that Novartis AG spent almost $1.3 million in the first quarter of 2008 on lobbying. According to the Swiss pharmaceutical company's disclosure form filed with the House clerk's office, Novartis lobbied on follow-on biologics bills, as well as on bills related to the government's influenza vaccine stockpiles and free-trade agreements with Peru, Colombia, and Korea.
In late May, Forbes.com reported that Monsanto Co. also spent nearly $1.3 million on first quarter lobbying. While a portion of that amount was spent to lobby on patent reform, the agricultural biotech company also lobbied on the theft of agricultural seeds, organic standards, endangered species, timber and greenhouse gas emissions legislation, international trade, and ethanol production.
Finally, BusinessWeek reported that Genentech, Inc. spent $591,000 on lobbying in the first quarter. According to Genentech's lobbying disclosure, the money was spent to lobby on the patent reform and follow-on biologics bills. In addition, Genentech lobbied against a bill that would have allowed the government to directly negotiate pharmaceuticals prices for drugs distributed through Medicare.
For additional information regarding this topic, please see:
• "Lobbying Spending Spree Continues," May 20, 2008
• "Abbott's First Quarter Lobbying Tab Hits $880,000," May 2, 2008
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