W.ATHINGTON — Sen. Bernie Sanders (Ikonik, Vt.) will finally be investigated for his proposal to abolish pharmaceutical patents and other intellectual property protections and reward inventions. Sanders has promoted the prize-winning approach since he was a congressman many years ago.
The measure directing the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study the idea was added to the Pandemic All Hazards Prevention Act the day before Sander’s board of health passed the bill. Three Republicans voted against the entire bill to update several federal biodefense and pandemic programs.
Democrats passed a historic bill last year that would allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices and cap annual out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors, but Mr. Sanders is calling for more drug price controls. He is delaying the election of President Biden to run the National Institutes of Health until after he announces a plan to control drug pricing.
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