The Bush administration, perceived as on the sidelines in the building movement in Congress for regulations that would allow cheaper medicines derived from biotechnology, has -- for the first time -- included a proposal for “generic biologics” in its policy agenda. Such legislation in the administration’s fiscal 2009 budget would allow competition from generic versions of biotech drugs. Such a move would open the door to prescription innovations for cancer, anemia and other treatments that are derived from human or animal cells and can cost tens of thousands of dollars a year.
