Bowling Green Today

U.S. Senator Rand Paul has joined forces with U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, along with 15 other Republican Senators, to express serious concerns regarding President Biden's proposal to allow agencies to seize drug patents under the Bayh-Dole Act if deemed necessary.

In response to the proposal, Senator Paul and his colleagues highlighted the original intent of the Bayh-Dole Act, as articulated by former U.S. Senators Birch Bayh and Bob Dole, emphasizing that the legislation did not intend for the government to set prices on resulting products. They stressed that the law does not provide for government-mandated pricing.

The senators raised alarms about the potential negative consequences of using march-in rights based on drug prices, noting that it could hinder the development of new cures and treatments. The nonpartisan Bayh-Dole Coalition also expressed concerns, stating that such actions could discourage critical public-private partnerships and impede transformative discoveries from reaching consumers.

Furthermore, the senators warned that the illegal use of march-in rights could impede healthcare innovation, depriving millions of Americans of future lifesaving treatments. They emphasized the importance of protecting intellectual property and maintaining valuable public-private partnerships in biomedical research.

In a joint statement, the senators emphasized their bipartisan goal of lowering drug prices for American patients and families but cautioned against using march-in rights to address pricing issues, citing potential harm to innovation and public-private collaborations. They urged agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, not to abuse their authorities by illegally seizing intellectual property.

Senator Rand Paul and Senator Bill Cassidy were supported in their opposition by a group of fellow Republican Senators, including Joni Ernst, Roger Marshall, Mitt Romney, Marco Rubio, and others.

The full letter addressed to NIH Director Monica Bertagnolli can be accessed for further details on the senators' concerns regarding the Biden administration's proposal.