Amgen spent nearly $2.4M lobbying government in 3Q

WASHINGTON - Biotech drugmaker Amgen Inc. spent nearly $2.4 million lobbying the federal government in the third quarter, according to a recent disclosure form.

The Thousand Oaks, Calif.-based company lobbied on legislation that would allow the Food and Drug Administration to approve generic copies of biotech drugs and on drug safety issues.

Biotech companies and generic drug developers have been at odds over the what a system for generic biotech drugs should look like. Biotech firms want longer patent protection while generic companies are asking for a timeline similar to the current system.

The FDA regulates the approval of generic drugs made from chemical compounds, but does not have a system in place for similar versions of biotech drugs, which are developed using more complicated, living cells. President-elect Barack Obama made more access to generic drugs part of his campaign.

During the July-September period, Amgen also lobbied on Medicare issues and efforts to reform the U.S. patent system, according to the form filed Oct. 20 with the House clerk's office. Besides Congress, the company lobbied the Department of Health and Human Services.

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