Biden administration takes aim at high drug prices with patent seizures

The Biden administration has asserted its authority to seize the patents of certain costly medications in an effort to reduce high drug prices and promote pharmaceutical competition. The administration has unveiled a framework outlining the factors federal agencies should consider when deciding whether to use march-in rights to break the patents of drugs developed with federal funds but not widely accessible to the public. This includes considering the medication's price, a change that could have significant implications for drugmakers. The move comes as President Biden prioritizes lowering drug prices and follows a review of march-in rights. While it remains unclear how federal agencies will use these rights, the pharmaceutical industry has criticized the administration's push, arguing that it discourages research and development.