A bipartisan group of U.S. senators has reintroduced a bill designed to address ongoing shortages of generic drugs by expanding domestic stockpiles and manufacturing capacity.
Here are three notes:
- The Rolling Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient and Drug Reserve Act, reintroduced by Sens. Gary Peters, D-Mich., Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Ted Budd, R-N.C., would require HHS to award contracts to manufacturers in the U.S. or allies to maintain stockpiles of essential medications and ingredients, according to a June 12 news release from Mr. Peters’ office.
- A 2023 report cited in the release showed that at least 15 medications remained in shortage for more than a decade, with many generics being low-cost but complex to manufacture.
- In addition to expanding the federal drug stockpile, the senators also requested the Government Accountability Office investigate unused domestic manufacturing and federal efforts to scale up advanced production.
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