(Source: The Hill, October 23, 2013)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The powerful senior lobby AARP is pressing negotiators to reject plans to include language in major trade deal that would bind the United States to a 12-year market exclusivity period for makers of brand-name biologic medicines. AARP warned the top U.S. trade official against allowing the language in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a 12-nation trade deal now under consideration. The provision would effectively lock in high prices for the popular drugs and could undermine public programs including Medicare and Medicaid, according to the nonpartisan group, which represents Americans 50 and over and their families.
Full story: The Hill