Watson Pharmaceuticals spent $295,000 on lobbying

The Corona, Calif.-based company lobbied in favor of legislation to allow the Food and Drug Administration to approve generic copies of biotech drugs. Generic drug companies already market cheaper versions of simpler, chemical drugs, but the FDA does not have the authority to approve generic biotech drugs.

Watson also has lobbied in favor of making generic biotech drugs medically interchangeable with the originals--meaning a pharmacist could switch a patient to a cheaper drug. The biotech industry opposed that measure and said generic biotechs should be similar, but not interchangeable with the originals. Under that proposal, patients would have to get their doctor's approval to switch to a cheaper version of their medication.

Biotech makers also want a guarantee that their medicines will be on the market for at least 12 years before generic copies can be made. Senate lawmakers attempted to pass a compromise bill last year, but negotiations broke down over how many years of exclusivity to give biotech drugs.

Watson also lobbied on various bills relating to drug safety and the inspection of foreign manufacturing facilities, according to a form filed April 21 with the House's clerk's office.