Senate Judiciary Committee hears senators accuse pharmaceutical industry of abusing patent laws to maintain high drug prices; potential patent reforms discussed.

Senators accused the pharmaceutical industry of abusing patent laws to maintain high drug prices during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. The committee discussed potential patent reforms, such as limiting patent terms, to increase competition and lower costs. Nonpartisan group CSRxP claims that five bipartisan bills, passed out of the Judiciary Committee in February, could save more than $4 billion annually.