AAM: Generic medicines increase patient access more than government negotiated price controls

The Association for Accessible Medicines and its Biosimilars Council recently responded to current discussions over potential savings on GLP-1 class medications.

AAM said it appreciates Chairman Sanders and his interest in generic competition, and AAM members are committed to increasing patient access through competition, including for GLP-1s as they lose patent protection in the coming years.

AAM noted however, that government policies often stand in the way of such competition. 

[Read more: AAM, Biosimilars Council releases statement on statement on Senate Judiciary Markup of PREVAIL and PERA]

“Slow approvals of new generics, particularly complex generics, can delay market entry.  Brand patent thickets impede new biosimilars and generics. And PBM preferences for high-cost, high-rebate drugs can undermine biosimilar and generic adoption. Further, investment in lower-priced products is threatened by the uncertainty created by a political price setting scheme. Rather than doubling down on government price setting schemes, policymakers should swiftly enact legislation to speed FDA approval of new generics and biosimilars, to prevent patent thickets and to ensure that PBMs prefer lower-price generics and biosimilars,” AAM said.

[Read more: AAM, Biosimilar Council host patent abuse Congressional briefing]