Senators push for quicker generic drug access

WASHINGTON (AP) — Two senators want to do away with the agreements that pharmaceutical companies make with one another to keep lower-priced generic copies of brand-name drugs off the market.

Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Republican Charles Grassley of Iowa say such “pay-for-delay” deals force consumers to pay higher prices for critical drugs. Their bill would make such agreements illegal unless the companies can prove in court that they aren’t anti-competitive.