A month after a new U.S. law encouraging the development of medicines to counter bioterrorism, some drugmakers are lobbying for more incentives to make products that may never be used. Additional financial lures could include liability protection, tax breaks and a potentially controversial provision that would extend patents on blockbuster drugs not related to U.S. efforts to fight terrorism. Last month, President Bush signed the so-called “Bioshield” bill to spur new drugs and vaccines, providing $5.6 billion over 10 years to expand private sector research and basically guaranteeing government purchases of related products.
