We still have to post Merck’s totals and disclosures… and we typically also add in Amazon, at the end. But today, after covering Pfizer and then Lilly, we look at… Amgen. [This year, we also offered bonus coverage of Abbott, and Baxter — at the mid-major level.]

Amgen is deep in the biotech space — and so is particularly focused on protecting patents for bio-engineered therapies (these are treated differently than powder pill drugs at FDA, and in many respects, under US patent law). For the full year, Amgen spent $9.54 million — and $3.55 million in Q4 alone, on stuff like this:

…Issues related to drug pricing reform — Changes to Public law 117-1769 Inflation Reduction Act; Awareness of implications to patients and research and development of Public law 117-1769 Inflation Reduction Act; S. 113 Prescription Pricing for the People Act of 2023; S.127 Pharmacy Benefit Manager Transparency Act; HR 830/ S 1375 HELP Copays Act; HR 485 Protecting Health Care for All Patients Act; HR 5378 Lower Costs, More Transparency Act; HR 2534 PROTECT 340B Act of 2023; HR 3561 the PATIENT Act; S. 1542 DRUG Act; S. 1967 PBM Act; HR 3503 The NIH Clinical Trials Diversity Act; Issues related to cardiovascular disease awareness and treatment; Issues related to Federal Trade Commission; FDA issues; Issues related to patient affordability issues, including copay cards, copay accumulators, copay maximizers, National Benefit Payment Parameters; Biosimilars reimbursement issues, no specific bill; Supply Chain Issues, no specific bill; and Issues related to 340B….

Issues related to pharmacy benefit managers — Proposed rule: Medicaid Program; Misclassification of Drugs, Program Administration and Program Integrity Updates Under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program; HR 4818/ S. 2407 Treat and Reduce Obesity Act; S. 2305 Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act; S. 2129 Ensuring Access to Lower-Cost Medicines for Seniors Act; Issues related to PAHPA reauthorization; Modernizing and Ensuring PBM Accountability Act (Finance Committee); S. 652 SAFE Step Act; S 2474/ HR 5376 Share the Savings with Seniors Act; S 2456 Protecting Seniors from High Drug Costs Act; HR 4881 To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to limit cost sharing for drugs under the Medicare program; HR 3281 Protecting Patients Against PBM Abuses Act; HR 4822 Health Care Price Transparency Act of 2023; S 1339 Pharmacy Benefit Manager Reform Act; HR 2679 Pharmacy Benefits Manager Accountability Act; HR 4507 Transparency in Coverage Act of 2023; HR 1352 Increasing Access to Biosimilars Act of 2023; HR 2880 Protecting Patients Against PBM Abuses Act; and Issues pertaining to the implementation of PL 97-414 “Orphan Drug Act,” all provisions….

HR4881 To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to limit cost sharing for drugs under the Medicare program….

Issues related to corporate and international tax, including regarding Public Law 115-97, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act; Issues related to Puerto Rico; Issues related to OECD negotiations on the taxation of global income; HR 3938 Build it in America Act….

S. 79/HR 1717 Interagency Patent Coordination and Improvement Act of 2023; S. 113 Prescription Pricing for the People Act of 2023; S.127 Pharmacy Benefit Transparency Act; S. 150 Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Act of 2023; S. 148 Stop STALLING Act; S. 142 Preserve Access to Affordable Generics and Biosimilars; Federal Trade Commission related issues, no specific bill; Issues related to the Patent Act, no specific bill; Issues related to March-In/Bayh Dole, WTO/TRIPS waiver, no specific bill; Issues related to False Claims Act; Issues related to FDA/PTO coordination; Issues related to patent thickets/product hopping; Issues related to obviousness/ double patenting; S.2140 Patent Eligibility Restoration Act of 2023; S.2220/HR 4370 Promoting and Respecting Economically Vital American Innovation Leadership Act; S.1128: A bill to establish special rules relating to information provided with respect to drug applications concerning method of use patents; H.R. 3858/S.1834: A bill to prohibit the President from negotiating or concluding any withdrawal, suspension, waiver, or modification to the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights without explicit authorization from Congress; H.R. 3535 Advancing Americas Interests Act; and H.R. 5475 Prohibiting Adversarial Patents Act of 2023….

Now you know — out, into the steel and glass canyons here, grinning — as my eldest returns, briefly — for an overnight visit Thursday to Friday evening, on her way from Nicaragua — back to her flat in London… woot!

नमस्ते