Ryan Discusses Potential ‘Compromise’ on CREATES Act

House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) yesterday discussed a potential compromise on the Creating and Restoring Equal Access to Equivalent Samples Act (S. 974/H.R. 2212), as part of congressional action to address high drug prices. “We’re working between the Commerce Committee and the Judiciary Committee on a compromise on what we call CREATES, which is getting the generics online faster after patents have expired, so I think there are things we can do in that area,” Ryan said, according to published reports, during an event hosted by a Washington, D.C. law firm. Among other provisions, the legislation would allow a generic drug manufacturer facing a sample-sharing delay tactic to bring an action in federal court for injunctive relief and allow a judge to award damages to deter future delaying conduct. Earlier this year, AHA and more than 40 organizations urged Congress to pass the legislation calling it “a narrowly targeted, bipartisan, pro-competition and market-based solution to these abuses that cost patients, job-creators and taxpayers billions of dollars each year.”