AMA: High Court Sides with Greater Oversight of Pay-For-Delay Agreements

Statement attributable to: Jeremy A. Lazarus, M.D., President, American Medical Association

"The American Medical Association applauds the U.S. Supreme Court ruling today confirming that the Federal Trade Commission has the authority to challenge anti-competitive market barriers that deny patients access to affordable generic medications. There must be oversight of drug manufacturers as they increasingly use 'pay-for-delay' agreements to keep affordable generic medications off the market. These agreements subvert existing laws designed to reward innovation by inappropriately extending market monopolies. Pay-for-delay agreements cannot be allowed to artificially inflate health care costs or obstruct physicians' ability to treat their patients with necessary medications.
 
"The AMA joined with the AARP and other organizations in filing a friend-of-the court brief urging the high court to overturn the ruling from the 11th Circuit Court barring the FTC from challenging pay-for-delay agreements and we are pleased that the high court agreed."

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Media Contact:
Robert J. Mills
AMA Media Relations
(312) 464-5970
robert.mills@ama-assn.org

About the American Medical Association (AMA)
The AMA, headquartered in Chicago, is committed to enabling a better health care system for patients and physicians to improve the health of the nation. Through its broad reach and deep relationships, the AMA is initiating partnerships to advance results-focused endeavors that improve public health, improve medical education and improve physician practice sustainability and satisfaction. Visit ama-assn.org to learn more about the AMA.

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