Congress should act in protecting patents for follow-on biologics, relying on a few basic principles that do not suppress research and developmentin this vital sector.

The FDA's restrictive approach toward new drugs, supported by Senator Ted Kennedy, comes at the expense of many patients and possibly Kennedy, too.

As Congress considers legislation that would allow imitative biological products, known as "biosimilars," to rely on the safety and efficacy data of original innovators, it must ensure that any provisions passed will foster, not stifle, discovery.

The development of antivirals for pandemic flu provides important insights into the pharmaceutical industry's ability to advance public health.

Targeted biotech drugs that attack specific biological molecules that cause disease are bringing new benefitsand fomentingpricing dynamics different from those of traditional drugs.