Schering-Plough Spent $600K Lobbying Gov't In 1Q

WASHINGTON (AP) — Schering-Plough Corp., a major maker of prescription, consumer and animal health products, spent $600,000 in the first quarter to lobby on health care reform, generic biologic drugs and other issues, according to a recent disclosure form.

That amount is 15 percent more than the Kenilworth, N.J.-based company, which is in the process of being acquired by New Jersey neighbor Merck & Co., spent in the year-ago period.

According to a recent disclosure report, Schering-Plough lobbied on health reform issues including access to coverage, price rebates for drugs bought under the Medicaid program and proposals to require research comparing effectiveness of different medical treatments.

The maker of allergy treatments Nasonex and Claritin, and the HomeAgain Pet Recovery System also lobbied on reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program, legislation affecting Food and Drug Administration operations, and against importation of cheaper prescription drugs from foreign countries, which domestic drugmakers have opposed for years.

Schering-Plough also lobbied on legislation to enable approval of generic versions of biologic drugs, which are "manufactured" inside special cells. Unlike traditional chemical drugs, biotech drugs have never faced generic competition because the FDA lacks authority to approve the cheaper copies of them.