Byron Dorgan: “The same pill, put in the same bottle, made by the same company. One is marketed in the United States; one is sent to…”

“The same pill, put in the same bottle, made by the same company. One is marketed in the United States; one is sent to Canada. What is the difference? The difference is, the U.S. consumer is told to pay 65 percent more for the same medicine. The same pill made by the same company, FDA approved, sent two places, to U.S. consumers and to Canadian consumers, and the U.S. consumers are told, you pay 65 percent more. Why? Because the drug industry says so. Myself, Senator Vitter, and others propose that you ought to be able to access those lower priced, FDA-approved drugs from Canada. The pharmaceutical industry doesn't like that. I understand. I understand why they want to maximize profits. The fact is, they say: If you do that and in any way diminish our profits, we will reduce the amount of research we do on new drugs. Isn't it interesting that they spend more on marketing and promotion than they do on research? Maybe they could cut back a little bit on that advertising on television that says: Ask your doctor whether the purple pill is right for you. I don't have the foggiest idea what the purple pill does, but every time I am shaving in the morning I see the commercial: Ask your doctor whether the purple pill is right for you. Maybe we could cut back the bid on that advertising. We have had commitments to bring this issue to the floor of the Senate. It was midnight when I believed the majority leader gave me a commitment to bring our comprehensive bill to the Senate.…”