HHS Officials Raise Concerns About Pricing, Patent Restrictions for Medical Countermeasures

US FDA Commissioner and Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response cautioned against changes to rewards for medical countermeasure developers in the next Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act reauthorization that might discourage biotech companies from working with the government.

Bernie Sanders
Biden Administration officials threw some cold water on likely Sander’s ideas for PAHPA reauthorization • Source: Shutterstock

Restricting the price or the patent and exclusivity awards of medical countermeasures could inhibit manufacturers from investing in the work needed to prepare for future pandemics, Biden administration officials told Congress on 4 May.

The comments came in response to questions from Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., the ranking member of the Senate Health...

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