Professor Jacob Sherkow authored an op-ed in Stat News regarding drug pricing and patents. An excerpt follows:

"If the new administration wants to focus on drug prices, there are myriad other ways of doing so than focusing on patent reform. It could, for starters, independently assess what certain drugs are worth, as other countries have done for years. It could limit drug manufacturers’ ability to agree on confidential rebates to certain insurers, a practice contributing to opaque drug pricing. It could simply purchase drugs in bulk — and actually negotiate for them — although doing so would require a change in the law. It could set price caps for drugs in emergency settings. It could bring down the antitrust hammer on collusive conduct between drug companies. For some drugs, it could encourage better, cheaper manufacturing processes."

Read the full op-ed at statnews.com.

Note: The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Illinois College of Law.