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GPhA Applauds Increase in Funding for FDA’s Office of Generic Drugs

Arlington, VA, October 22, 2009 – The Generic Pharmaceutical Association (GPhA) today issued the following statement from Kathleen Jaeger, President and CEO of the Generic Pharmaceutical Association (GPhA), on House and Senate passage of the Agriculture Appropriations Conference Report:

“The 2010 Agriculture Appropriations bill, signed into law yesterday, represents a significant step forward in providing FDA with the resources it needs to effectively and efficiently do its job. As Americans increasingly turn to generic medicines as a means to improve their health at affordable costs, this infusion of resources should help the FDA provide more timely access to generic drugs.

“The Office of Generic Drugs has been severely underfunded for several years and there is no doubt that the dedicated scientists and reviewers at FDA need more resources. We applaud Senators Herb Kohl (D-WI) and Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Jack Kingston (R-GA), Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO) and Marion Berry (D-AR) for their leadership in the effort to increase FDA’s funding.

“With generic medicines saving the health care system one billion dollars every three days, there is no doubt that placing more resources in bringing safe and effective generics to consumers is a sound investment.”

GPhA represents the manufacturers and distributors of finished generic pharmaceuticals, manufacturers and distributors of bulk active pharmaceutical chemicals, and suppliers of other goods and services to the generic drug industry. Generics represent 72% of the total prescriptions dispensed in the United States, but only 17% of all dollars spent on prescription drugs. For more information about the industry, visit www.gphaonline.org.

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