Eli Lilly Spent $3.4M Lobbying Government In 1Q

WASHINGTON (AP) — Drugmaker Eli Lilly and Co. spent more than $3.4 million in the first quarter, lobbying on several trade issues as well as domestic topics like the federal stimulus program.

Indianapolis-based Lilly lobbied on market access for countries like Mexico and Brazil, pricing reform and counterfeiting issues with China. The U.S. Trade Representative's office has identified counterfeited pharmaceuticals as a threat to the health and safety of consumers worldwide.

Lilly also lobbied on pricing and health care reform in several European countries, including Germany, Italy, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Domestically, the drugmaker lobbied on Medicaid rebates and advertising transparency.

Besides Congress, Lilly lobbied the U.S. Trade Representative, National Security Agency, Food and Drug Administration, and the departments of State, Commerce, Justice, and Health and Human Services, according to a report filed April 17 with the House clerk's office.

Lilly's first-quarter total was a 19 percent increase from the $2.9 million total it registered in the same quarter last year.