Big Pharma Loses Generic Drug Fight

Congress and the White House have agreed to give developing nations more access to affordable generic drugs by easing some patent enforcement rules. Tucked into a broader trade agreement passed last week, the provision is the first blow to American pharmaceutical companies since the Democrats won control of Congress, the Wall Street Journal reports.

But it's not likely to be the last. Democrats also want to legalize imports of cheaper drugs from Canada, and rewrite Medicare rules to allow the government to negotiate prices for drugs. (More medicine stories.)