WITHDRAWAL OF COSPONSORSHIP -- (Senate - September 16, 1999)
 

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    Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I rise today to withdraw my name as a co-sponsor of Senate bill S. 1172, the Drug Patent Term Restoration Review Procedures Act of 1999. After much research and thought I have decided to do this for the senior citizens of Montana.

   When I signed on this bill I believed that it was the right thing to do. Helping companies that have invested millions of dollars in research and development, only to see their property protections eroded by administrative delays, concerned me and I felt it was a good bill to help sponsor.

   After many meetings, lots of research and careful thought I have now come to a different conclusion. I now believe that there is already an established patent extension process to compensate brand companies for regulatory delays. I feel that by allowing brand companies to seek additional 

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patent life for so-called ``pipeline drugs,'' this bill will deprive consumers, and especially the elderly with their limited incomes, the opportunity to purchase the more affordable generic drug equivalent. Generic drugs are often priced 25-60% below the brand name product.

   Mr. President, I feel that this is a good bill, but if I continue to support S. 3372 I would be blocking patient access to generic medicines for three more years, forcing millions of Americans to pay inflated prices for these drugs. I cannot do this to the senior citizens in my great state. They are having a tough time getting by as is. Higher drug prices just add to their problems.

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