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Misplaced Fears in the Legislative Battle over Biotech Drugs

In a new article, available here , Professor David Adelman (University of Texas) and I weigh in on the controversial subject of the inclusion of an extended period of data exclusivity in proposed follow-on biologic (FOB) legislation. Both healthcare bills passed by the House and Senate, H.R. 3962 and H.R. 3590 (that is not a typo, the Senate healthcare reform bill was passed as an amendment to House Bill H.R. 3590), include provisions creating an abbreviated approval process for follow on biologics, and both incorporate a 12 year period of data exclusivity for biologic innovators. Some, including the FTC, have argued for a much shorter period of data exclusivity for biologic innovators, and some of the proposed follow-on biologic bills introduced in Congress earlier last year included shorter periods. For example, H.R. 1427 would have provided innovators with only five years of data exclusivity. In an earlier article and post, I challenged the FTC’s conclusion, pointing out what I perceive to be flaws in its arguments purportedly justifying a short-term of data exclusivity for biologic innovators.

One of the primary arguments raised by opponents of an extended 12 year data exclusivity period is that patent protection will be sufficient to provide the necessary incentive for robust investment in innovation on new biologics, rendering data exclusivity unnecessary. Prof. Adelman and I argue that there is substantial uncertainty as to whether patents will be as effective for protecting innovative biologic as they have been for conventional drugs. For example, composition of matter patents claiming the drug active ingredient have generally proven very effective in protecting conventional drugs. Other more attenuated patents covering methods of production or use, specific formulations, etc., have proven much more susceptible to circumvention and/or invalidation. Historically, composition of matter patents on the active ingredient do not have a strong track record of success in the context of biologics, where innovators have more often needed to resort to patents claiming processes and reagents used in production of the biologic, with mixed success. Biologic drugs are fundamentally different than conventional drugs, and the scope of available patent protection for biologics is unclear, particularly in view of uncertainty surrounding the scope of protection available under the enablement and written description requirement (the pending en banc Federal Circuit decision in Ariad v. Eli Lilly for example). All things considered, it would be a mistake to assume patents will be as effective in protecting biologics, and thereby incentivizing innovation, as they have historically been for conventional drugs. And in any event, the 12 year period of data exclusivity would run concurrent with the patent term, and thus should have little impact if strong and robust patent protection is in fact available for biologic.

In our article, Prof. Adelman and I consider the legal, technical and economic context of follow-on biologics and conclude that a shortened period of data exclusivity as endorsed by the FTC would provide at best nominal savings in overall healthcare expenditures in the US. It could, however, substantially impair the likelihood of a biologic innovator recouping a sufficient return on investment to justify the enormous expenditure and high risk associated with bringing a novel biologic to market. In our view, an extended period of data exclusivity, such as the 12 year period included in the current healthcare reform bills, is appropriate. More importantly, the emphasis by the FTC and others on reducing the data exclusivity period is misplaced. Society would be much better served by focusing on the development of technology and regulatory processes that facilitate marketing approval for follow-on biologics subsequent to the expiration of an appropriate period of exclusivity afforded by patents and data exclusivity.

Available link for download

Me on your radio and very slightly TV over Christmas

We interrupt this stream of Bear Facts to let you know that, by coincidence, I am doing something you can listen to, or even watch, over each of the next four days.

22nd December. Two today. In the morning, mSouvenir Programme colleague Carrie Quinlan and I will be doing a short and Christmassy sketch during the Today programme. This, and all the things listed here, will be available on iPlayer once theyve been aired. Im not going to do links, because youre all terribly clever people, and can find them for yourself.

In the evening, I make my second appearance in this series of one of my favourite shows, Im Sorry I Havent A Clue. (I stepped in at short notice for an indisposed Barry Cryer, by the way, which is why Im not credited - but dont worry, hes absolutely fine.)

23rd December. Theres this sitcom I write called Cabin Pressure, about pilots. Anyway, the first part of the two part show finale will go out at 6.30 on Radio 4. Incidentally, there are spoilers absolutely everywhere. The audience who saw the recording in February have diligently and heroically kept quiet for ten months. The papers previewing the show… not so much. If you havent been spoilt yet, and dont want to be, I advise you not to read or listen to anything you see promoting the show. Except this. This is fine.

Christmas Eve. The second part airs. For what its worth, I dont think Ive seen any spoilers relating to events in this half. For instance, the scene the BBC has put out is from part one, and if youve seen the cast list, all of those characters have made their appearance by the end of part one. So, even if youve seen spoilers, you still have some surprises in store.

Christmas Day. mSouvenir Programme Colleague Margaret Cabourn-Smith and I make a (brief) final appearance as Mirandas annoying friends Chris and Alison in Miranda on BBC1.

Boxing Day. Blessed relief for the nation - the plague of relentless festive Finnemore appearances is over.

Available link for download