BMS lobbying spend reaches USD 2.8m

US-headquartered pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) spent over USD 2.8m in H1 2007 to lobby the US Federal government over patent protection.

The company continues to lobby for patent protection for the pharmaceutical industry, free trade agreements and more funding for the FDA, according to a form posted online by the Senate's public records office on 10 October 2007.

In early September 2007, the House approved a patent reform bill intended to reduce patent litigation, improve patent quality, increase information available to patent examiners and establish a post-approval patent re-evaluation process.

While technology and financial services firms supported the legislation, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies claim it will weaken patent protection by reducing infringement penalties and permitting post-approval challenges to patents.

The Senate is also considering similar legislation.

BMS has also been lobbying the Agriculture and Commerce departments and the US Trade Representative's office.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has already instigated a lawsuit which seeks an injunction against the US Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) to stop them from bringing into effect new rules as of 1 November 2007. GSK says the new law will stifle innovation.