GAO to investigate regulatory delays at FDA

Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman James Jeffords, R-Vt., Friday gave the General Accounting Office authority to fully investigate regulatory delays at the Food and Drug Administration regarding the approval of so-called "pipeline drugs"-drugs that were under review by the FDA when Congress last reviewed drug patent rules.

Sen. Robert Torricelli, D-N.J., has sponsored a bill to extend patents for certain drugs on behalf of pharmaceutical companies that contend the delays limited the time during which they could financially benefit from the patent.

Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., who has led efforts to block legislation by pharmaceutical companies that want the extension, had previously asked for a GAO study.