That Flushing Sound: PhRMA To Appeal Take-Back Lawsuit Loss

If at first you don’t succeed… The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America plans to appeal a decision in which a federal judge last month dismissed its lawsuit charging a California county acted inappropriately by passing an ordinance that requires drugmakers to cover the cost of a prescription drug ‘take back,’ or disposal program. A PhRMA spokeswoman confirms a report on California Healthline that the trade group will file an appeal, although documents have not yet been filed in court. Now for some background: The tussle over the Alameda County ordinance has been closely watched by other local governments around the country, because it is the first of its kind in the US and comes after the pharmaceutical industry lobbied to defeat the effort over concerns that the costs of compliance would be prohibitively expensive. As we reported previously, the county wants to reduce contaminants in drinking water and lower the threat of drug abuse stemming from painkillers that linger in household medicine chests. But disposal costs can overwhelm local governments. An Alameda County drop-off program costs about $330,000 annually, according to official estimates at the time the ordinance was passed last year. In requiring the pharmaceutical industry to pick up the tab, county officials pointed out that drugmakers make money from the sale of medicines and, therefore, should also have an obligation to help with appropriate disposal. But in its lawsuit, the trade group ...
Source: Pharmalot - Category: Pharma Commentators Authors: Source Type: blogs