Frank Lautenberg: “we have an interesting challenge in front of us today. All of us support drug availability at affordable prices. The…”

“we have an interesting challenge in front of us today. All of us support drug availability at affordable prices. The challenge that brings us to the floor today is how to ensure that prescription drugs used by Americans are both affordable and safe. That is the goal for all of us, I believe, in the Senate. We trust the drugs we get at our local pharmacies, our neighborhood pharmacies, are safe because they go through a rigorous FDA approval process, and a series of tests and inspections are done before they reach our medicine chests. Those drugs improve, extend, and save lives. I am proud so many of these drugs originate in my home State. In fact, more than half the medicines approved by the FDA in 2001 were developed by 70,000 hard-working people employed in the pharmaceutical companies of New Jersey. These companies have received more than 11,000 patents for their products since 1985 for their innovative work. Many of these products are life-extending and limit often painful and debilitating conditions. When we look at the prospects these companies are offering, we want to encourage the research. I heard this morning about an inoculation that could be sufficient, given one time to women, that could prevent osteoporosis. What a wonderful thing. Recently, we have had a product come to the market called Gardasil. It says that young women who receive an injection of Gardasil can be protected against cervical cancer for their lives.”