Biotech/Pharma Lobbying Scoreboard - Third Quarter Update; BIO Lobbies for Biotech "Bailout"

    By Donald Zuhn --

Patent Docs periodically reports on the lobbying efforts of various players in the biotech/pharma industry (see links below for reports on first and second quarter lobbying this year).  Our interest in the lobbying expenditures of these companies and organizations stems from the push by Congress over the past two years to pass patent reform and follow-on biologics legislation.  With both houses of Congress expected to renew their efforts to pass patent reform and follow-on biologics bills in 2009, we provide the following update on third quarter biotech/pharma lobbying activities:

• Amgen Inc. spent $2.4 million on third quarter lobbying (see Forbes.com report).  According to Amgen's October 20 filing with the House clerk's office, the biotech drugmaker's lobbying efforts were directed in part at patent reform and follow-on biologics legislation.

• The Biotechnology Industry Organization spent more than $1.9 million on third quarter lobbying (see Forbes.com report).  According to the organization's October 20 filing with the House clerk's office, BIO's lobbying efforts were directed in part at patent reform and follow-on biologics legislation.  The organization's filing also indicates that Patrick Carroll, a former legislative assistant to Representative Ray LaHood (R-IL); Tooshar Swain, who was a legislative correspondent to former Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA); and Bill Olson, a former legislative assistant to Representative John Shimkus (R-IL), lobbied on behalf of BIO.

• Genzyme Corp. spent $770,000 on third quarter lobbying (see Forbes.com report).  According to Genzyme's October 20 filing with the House clerk's office, the drugmaker's lobbying efforts were directed in part at patent reform and follow-on biologics legislation.

• Baxter International Inc. spent $720,000 on third quarter lobbying (see Forbes.com report).  According to Baxter's October 20 filing with the House clerk's office, the drug and medical device maker's lobbying efforts were directed in part at patent reform and follow-on biologics legislation.  The company's filing also indicates that Deborah Williams, a former House Ways and Means Committee staffer, lobbied on behalf of Baxter.

• Genentech Inc. spent $570,000 on third quarter lobbying (see Forbes.com report).  According to Genetech's October 20 filing with the House clerk's office, the biotech company's lobbying efforts were directed in part at follow-on biologics legislation.

• Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. spent $540,000 on third quarter lobbying (see Forbes.com report).  According to Amylin's October 17 filing with the House clerk's office, the biotech drugmaker's lobbying efforts were directed in part at follow-on biologics legislation.

• The Generic Pharmaceutical Association spent $506,976 on third quarter lobbying (see Forbes.com report).  According to the trade group's October 20 filing with the House clerk's office, the GPhA's lobbying efforts were directed in part at patent reform and follow-on biologics legislation.

• Cephalon spent $476,543 on third quarter lobbying (see Forbes.com report).  According to Cephalon's October 20 filing with the House clerk's office, the biotech drugmaker's lobbying efforts were directed in part at patent reform legislation.

• Biogen Idec Inc. spent $180,000 on third quarter lobbying (see Forbes.com report).  According to Biogen's October 16 filing with the House clerk's office, the biotech drugmaker's lobbying efforts were directed in part at patent reform and follow-on biologics legislation.  The company's filing also indicates that Kathleen Weldon, a former House Ways and Means Committee staffer; and Adam Gluck, a former Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions staffer, lobbied on behalf of Biogen.

In addition to the lobbying efforts described above, the Baltimore Business Journal and The Motley Fool recently reported that BIO has begun lobbying for government financial relief for certain members of the biotech industry (see "Biotech Companies Want Bailout Too" and "Drug Developers Want a Bailout, Too").  According to the Baltimore Business Journal, BIO is seeking a change in the tax laws to financially assist small companies, which have struggled to raise cash as a result of the year-long recession.  BIO contends that 25% of the 370 publicly traded U.S. biotech companies now have less than six months of cash on hand.

For additional information regarding this topic, please see:

• "Biotech/Pharma Lobbying Scoreboard - Second Quarter Update - Part II," September 12, 2008
• "Biotech/Pharma Lobbying Scoreboard - Second Quarter Update," August 21, 2008
• "Biotech/Pharma Lobbying Scoreboard - Part II," June 30, 2008
• "Biotech/Pharma Lobbying Scoreboard" June 6, 2008
• "Lobbying Spending Spree Continues," May 20, 2008
• "Abbott's First Quarter Lobbying Tab Hits $880,000," May 2, 2008

Comments

[Groucho]

Now that's capitalism! And here I thought this blog was all about competition and everybody fighting over their awesome patents.