The Generic Pharmaceutical Association (GPhA) and 10 other groups, including Express Scripts and the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, are urging the Senate Special Committee on Aging to support The Fair Access for Safe and Timely Generics Act, H.R. 2841, to prevent brand drugmakers from using risk evaluation and mitigation strategies to deny generic and biosimilar sponsors access to drugs for development purposes.

A delay in certifying a ballot initiative that would ensure lower drug prices in Ohio has landed the issue in front of the state Supreme Court. Four supporters of the initiative, which would adopt U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs drug pricing for state programs, filed suit in the Supreme Court against Ohio Secretary of State John Husted, claiming he failed to fulfill his obligation to certify the petitions and advance the initiative to the General Assembly. Instead of submitting the initiative to state lawmakers this week, Husted sent it back to election officials in Ohio's 88 counties with instructions to re-certify the 116,015 voter signatures. Husted's actions followed a formal complaint, filed Dec. 30 on behalf of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, about the signature gathering and initial certification process. The Ohio Drug Price Relief Act initiative is financially supported by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which also is funding a similar initiative in California.