http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/12/31/ap5871968.html

Associated Press
Wyeth spent nearly $757K lobbying government in 3Q
Associated Press, 12.31.08, 04:57 PM EST

Wyeth, which makes the popular antidepressant Effexor and other drugs, spent $756,650 lobbying on prescription drug pricing, imports and other issues in the third quarter, according to a recent disclosure form.

The Madison, N.J.-based company lobbied on extending the State Children's Health Insurance Program, disclosing drugmaker payments to doctors, drugs rebates paid to the Medicaid program and government negotiation of prices paid for drugs for seniors under the Medicare program.

Wyeth lobbied against efforts to allow the importation of cheaper prescription medicines from Canada and other foreign countries. Proponents say foreign competition would help drive down U.S. drug prices, but the pharmaceutical industry warns that could expose Americans to counterfeit medications. Efforts to pass an importation bill fizzled in Congress in 2008, despite several hearings.

The company also lobbied on bills affecting funding involving some of its key drugs, including childhood vaccines, dietary supplements (it makes Centrum vitamins) and hormone replacement medicines, which include its popular Premarin and Prempro.

Wyeth also lobbied on the importance of protecting pharmaceutical patents in trade agreements. Additionally, the company lobbied for an extension of a tax credit designed to reward companies for investing in research and development, and on the issue of taxes paid by international operations of American corporations.

The company also lobbied on bills that would allow generic drug companies to sell cheaper copies of biotech drugs. Unlike traditional chemical-based drugs, biotech drugs have never faced generic competition because the Food and Drug Administration lacks authority to approve the cheaper copies of them. An effort to give the agency that power stalled when lawmakers couldn't agree on how many years of patent protection to give biotech drugs.

Besides Congress, Wyeth lobbied the White House, FDA, U.S. Trade Representative, National Security Council, the Justice and Treasury Departments, and other agencies in the July-September period, according to the form filed Oct. 20 with the House clerk's office.