States Urge FDA To Allow Reimportation of Less-Expensive Prescription Drugs from Canada

Investor's Business Daily on Friday looks at recent state appeals to the FDA to allow reimportation of U.S.-manufactured drugs from Canada. While the drive to legalize reimportation "stall[ed]" when many senators said a House bill passed in July would restrict the FDA's authority too much, states have "stepped in" to advance legalization efforts. On Wednesday, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) urged the FDA to reconsider its ban on reimportation, saying, "The current model cannot be sustained." Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack (D) and Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) during the past two weeks have made similar declarations to the FDA. California, Michigan, Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, Kansas and Missouri are considering doing the same. The agency's drug safety arguments "have worn a little thin," especially when drugs in Canada cost an average of 40% less than in the United States, IBD reports. "Drug costs are placing undue pressure on strapped state budgets nationwide," Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) said (Higgins, Investor's Business Daily, 9/26).