Press Releases

Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-4) Statement On Reports that Drug Companies Are Conspiring To Raise the Costs of Generic Prescription Drugs

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-4) is releasing the following statement regarding recent news reports that leading drug companies are conspiring to raise the costs of generic prescription drugs:

"As the House moves this week to consider legislation to protect and expand affordable health care and lower prescription drug costs, I thank the state prosecutors, including Wisconsin’s, for their courage in filing a lawsuit against 20 drug companies and 15 individuals for alleged anti-competitive behavior related to the pricing of generic drugs on which Americans depend. Such illegal conduct, if true, adds salt to the wound of those struggling to afford lifesaving medications.

As noted in the complaint filed by the state Attorneys General, 'Health care experts believe cost savings from the growing number of generic drugs helped keep the lid on increasing health care costs.' Competition is the lifeblood of the generic drug marketplace and we must hold all stakeholders responsible and accountable when they work to undermine the integrity of that competition. As this litigation unfolds, I and others will be closely watching to learn more about any illegal agreements that may have unfairly raised or artificially inflated prices and “thwarted Congress's goal to lower the prices of drugs.”

This week, the House will consider H.R. 987, the Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act, which includes the following provisions that strengthen generic drug competition:

• to prohibit brand name drug manufacturers from compensating generic drug manufacturers for delaying the entry of a generic drug into the market,
• to prohibit biological product manufacturers from paying compensation to delay entry of biosimilar and inter-changeable products, and
• to promote competition in the prescription drug marketplace by facilitating the timely entry of lower-cost generic and biosimilar versions of those drugs and biological products.

Last week, the House passed H.R. 986, the Protecting Americans with Preexisting Conditions Act of 2019, H.R. 1503, the Orange Book Transparency Act of 2019, and H.R. 1520, the Purple Book Continuity Act of 2019. There are also several other measures awaiting floor consideration, including H.R. 2113, the Prescription Drug STAR Act that I supported when it passed the House Ways and Means Committee earlier this year.