Study: pharmaceutical lobbying increased by one-third in 2007

WASHINGTON According to a Center for Public Integrity analysis, pharmaceutical trade groups and manufacturers spent a record $168 million on lobbying in 2007. This figure represents a 32 percent jump over 2006 and brings the decade total to more than $1 billion, according to the Senate Office of Public Records.

The top issues lobbied in 2007 included blocking the importation of drugs, extending pharmaceutical patents, obtaining greater access of U.S. drugs in international free trade agreements, and preventing Congress from limiting direct-to-consumer ads. More than 90 percent of the spending on lobbying was by 40 drug companies and three trade groups—the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the Biotechnology Industry Organization and the Advanced Medical Technology Association.

PhRMA led the drug industry trade groups in lobbying with close to $23 million spent in 2007, a 26 percent rise from 2006. Among the drug companies, Amgen took the top spot with $16.2 million, followed by Pfizer at $13.8 million. Other big drug company spenders included Roche Holding ($9 million), Sanofi-aventis ($8.4 million), GlaxoSmithKline ($8.2 million), and Johnson & Johnson ($7.7 million).

“As the biggest lobby on the Hill, the pharmaceutical industry wields tremendous influence that impacts everything from prescriptions to patents,” said Center Executive Director Bill Buzenberg. “The central point is that their massive spending has been highly successful, largely producing the political results the drug industry wants.”