ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, February 17, 1997 TAG: 9702170055
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DAVID M. POOLE STAFF WRITER
After a 60-minute discussion on anti-coagulants and bio-equivalent drugs, Senate Education and Health Chairman Warren Barry had the confused look Sunday night of an English major who had wandered into a medical seminar.
"We're getting into an area in which maybe some of you have expertise, but that eludes me," Barry, of Fairfax County, told committee members.
A narrow majority agreed that health care experts - not legislators - should have the final say in a bill that pits brand-name drug manufacturers against makers of generic drugs.
Before approving the bill, the committee voted 8-6 for an amendment that defers the matter to one of two state boards that oversee prescription drugs.
"The fact is we should rely on the professionals," said Lynchburg Sen. Steve Newman, who sponsored an amendment.
The bill would require pharmacists to double-check with physicians before substituting versions of six "narrow index" drugs that require extremely precise dosages.
Drug companies - led by DuPont Merck Pharmaceuticals - said the bill is a matter of patient safety.
Opponents say the bill is an anti-competitive measure aimed at throwing up obstacles to generic versions of certain drugs, including the blood-thinning Coumadin made by DuPont Merck. Barr Laboratories Inc. plans to make a generic form of Coumadin at a plant now under construction in the Forest section of Bedford County.
LENGTH: Short : 36 lines KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLYby CNB