AARP sues over drug prices

[Guest guest]

A friend of mine sent this to me. I'm sure a lot of you have already read this,

but if not know you will all agree that the drug companies are ripping us off

when it comes to our medication. Some doctors are treated like kings and queens

by the drug companies so the doctor will write the perscriptions using their

drug so we can pay higher prices. As for me I hope the AARP kicks some major

butts with this one.

Sharyn

http://www.msnbc.com/news/759048.asp?0si=-

Seniors group joins lawsuits against major drug companies

The AARP is putting new pressure on drug companies. Watch Myers'

report.

By Myers

NBC NEWS

May 28 - The high cost of prescription drugs is a bitter pill for many

Americans, especially those with traditional Medicare, which does not pay

for most prescription drugs. Now, the nation's largest association

representing older Americans is putting new pressure on drug companies to

drive prices down, by going to court.

HELEN DONEGA had breast cancer surgery four years ago. Her doctor prescribed

the popular anti-cancer drug Tamoxifen to prevent the cancer from coming

back, but she delayed taking it for months because a 30-day supply cost

$100.

Finally, Donega found a cheap supply of the drug from Canada. Now, she takes

her Tamoxifen every day - and she's suing drug companies to try to force

them to put a low-cost alternative on the market in the United States.

" I believe in capitalism, and it's alright to make money, " says Donega. " But

let's not do it on the backs of the people who need this drug - the people

on fixed incomes or the people who need this drug to preserve life. "

Wednesday, the American Association of Retired Persons agreed and threw the

weight of its 35 million members behind lawsuits against makers of

Tamoxifen, the potassium supplement K-dur and the anxiety drug BuSpar, which

is taken by millions of Americans.

The suits allege that the makers of those drugs have illegally colluded to

delay the release of a generic alternative or to keep the price of the

generic artificially high.

" We are not out to attack the American pharmaceutical industry, " said Bill

Novelli, executive director of AARP. " They provide lifesaving drugs that our

members and all Americans need. However, we are out to attack soaring drug

costs. "

In the case of Tamoxifen, there is a generic alternative available. But it

is manufactured by the same company that makes Tamoxifen - AstraZeneca - and

it costs only 5 percent less. Most generics cost at least 30 percent less.

AstraZeneca and Barr Laboratories, which markets the generic, say the

lawsuit is without merit, as do the other drug companies.

" Clearly, we believe what we did was lawful and proper, " says Bruce Downey,

chairman and CEO of Barr Laboratories. " And, in fact, we think it's

pro-consumer. "

AARP decided to go the legal route partly because it has concluded that

seniors are not going to get a meaningful prescription drug benefit under

Medicare anytime soon. Experts say the most realistic way to combat

skyrocketing drug costs is to get more generics on the market so seniors at

least have a choice.