Biologic Bottleneck

" the health care reform battle is being waged on one playing field that could ultimately affect how much you pay for vital medication. Senior White House correspondent Major Garrett reports on the high stakes negotiations. Over drug patents."

" President Obama's wading deeper into the billion dollar dispute over how long drug makers can protect profits derived from cutting edge drugs called biologics. Therapies for cancer rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis that require years and millions in research to develop one of things I want to do is to speed up. Generics getting introduced to the marketplace right now. The -- governors are fighting so that they can keep essentially their -- Patents on their brand name drugs. A lot longer it sounds like the president's talking about drugs made from chemicals such as Lipitor or prozac and -- generic equivalents but that debate is settled. Drug companies can keep those patents for five years. The real debate in congress one mr. Obama's decidedly losing at the moment is over what's called data exclusivity in essence. How long drug companies can keep from their competitors. Information about fragile tough to replicate biologics. Made from complex proteins derived from living plants or animal tissue. Mr. Obama's budget calls for seven years of data exclusivity. And if we can. Make those. -- a little bit shorter. Generics get on the market sooner ultimately US consumers will save money. Our earlier this year -- Federal Trade Commission report said no data exclusivity was necessary at all. The drug manufacturers backed by its Washington lobbying arm 112 years the White House call seven years a quote generous compromise. The seniors lobby AARP -- the White House against the drug company."

" It's they would have what's called exclusively guaranteed monopoly. For twelve years and we think that success that we think consumers should be able to -- by lower price. Drugs these are life saving drugs today they can cost 10000 dollars a month and more advocates for the drug makers say exclusivity is the key to spurring new drug development."

" So companies have the ability to -- hit the significant investment it takes to develop a biologic drug. On average it's about one point two billion dollars the company spends to get a biologic on the market. And that's well before the cost of actually building a facility to manufacture the biologic which. Oftentimes runs anywhere from a quarter of a billion to half a billion dollars to get on the market."

" Democratic Senator Edward Kennedy whom President Obama often invokes in the health care -- opposes him on this issue. Kennedy voted by proxy with the majority of the Senate health panel. Provide twelve years of data exclusivity on biologics and just before the August recess a sizable bipartisan majority -- house panel. For the very same thing on this issue the White House appears to be losing ground even with Democrats in congress."

" you got quite an exchange today with the white house press secretary Robert Gibbs over the administration's email list that. --"

" I didn't have to look at it and you sit -- third. Pieces of information I didn't find -- about health care outside of people who asked for emails. I'm -- it is. Do you do you in any -- databases or information about him. Who might be -- little -- we'll certainly check not a that are professionals we know is there you can -- him once and never -- The indecency and you got an email from and whether or not there on the list. -- You check mullis. That's what you're asking me they're on the list and I know there's you can hear -- without him asking me. Honestly I'm -- and they're telling me yeah. Be honest because -- never asked for email my clubs and his I don't I don't. I'd have to look and see who's so you haven't actually it's what you've never sign up in the -- I didn't you know what it. Hesitant. You can answer because you might impugn the motives of the answer what. Because of the way you phrase your follow -- I'd have to look at what you've got major I don't. I appreciate the fact that. I have omnipotent clarity. As to what you've received in your email box. Today. -- show on the map."

" Well we -- having let us say it. At this moment bread and non constructive dialogue about the emails I've received permission from several people contacted me that I can provide the -- the White House. At this moment and I certainly hope it changes. Mr. Gibbs expressed not nearly as much interest -- in the briefing looking at those seen him. And the question is whether someone. Who who has engaged with the White House how how they got this email from David Axelrod. On health care issues right now I've received a lot of email since that briefing some people said look -- those emails to friends clearly that's a legitimate option. Many people have contacted me said these emails came directly to them we're not afforded to them by friends or non friends for that matter. And are curious if -- just access in the White House website so people said they did that -- that I'm not automatically put them on an email distribution list. Some people live we'll contact me say they don't wanna be on email distribution list I'm trying to find out how these people got them. We're still working on it as yet where that was filming. We'll continue to follow it major thank."