| Not too long ago, a bipartisan group of senators in | | | | could be even more damaging to the pharmaceutical |
| the United States introduced legislation that could | | | | industry. The other section of bill outlines a plan that |
| spell big problems for the pharmaceutical industry. | | | | mandates that drugs may be imported to the United |
| The "Pharmaceutical Market Access and Drug Safety | | | | States, only if they are imported from FDA approved |
| Act" is a piece of legislation being pushed through the | | | | manufacturing plants. Now this would sound like a |
| Senate to immediately reduce drug prices for | | | | pretty reasonable stipulation, if the United States |
| consumers, which will ultimately force the Bio-Pharma | | | | imported its drugs from a lot of FDA approved |
| Industry to have to drastically reduce the price of | | | | manufacturing sites. But as of right now, only about 1 |
| drugs here in the United States. According to the | | | | in every 13 foreign plants are inspected by the FDA, |
| Congressional Budget committee, this piece of | | | | and some fear that in lesser developed countries like |
| legislation could ultimately save the American | | | | India and China, they would face an even tougher |
| consumer upwards to 50 billion dollars over the next | | | | time passing inspection. |
| decade. However, some in the pharmaceutical | | | | India and China are some of the fastest growing |
| industry are crying foul. | | | | drug makers on the globe, but they are also some of |
| Many pharmaceutical consultancy firms are seeing this | | | | the least inspected. There is no doubt that their |
| as a big headache for the pharmaceutical industry. | | | | pharmaceutical industries would be hit hardest by this |
| They see this move by the federal government as | | | | measure. However, not everyone feels this measure |
| being very poorly timed, as the pharmaceutical | | | | has enough teeth to really make any substantial |
| industry, which was a booming field for so long, has | | | | change in the quality of imported drugs. Many critics |
| started to face some major setbacks. The | | | | are citing the lack of oversight in many of these |
| pharmaceutical industry, already suffering from losses | | | | foreign countries, as well as widespread corruption, |
| coming from cheaper, generic medicines, doesn't | | | | and doubt that these widespread FDA inspections will |
| know if it can take another 50 billion dollar hit over | | | | really make any impact. |
| the next ten years. Along with many important | | | | If you liked this article about a pharmaceutical |
| patents expiring in the next few years, and sparsely | | | | consultancy firm, tell all your friends about it. They'll |
| populated drug pipelines, this measure is causing | | | | thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you |
| plenty of headaches in the pharmaceutical industries | | | | can link to it or even post it to your own site (don't |
| executive branch. | | | | forget to mention as the original source). |
| Another part of the bill, that is getting less publicity, | | | | |