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The drug industry is threatening to end its support for Obama's healthcare overhaul effort due to a rift with the administration over protecting brand-name biotech drugs from low-cost generic competitors.

In an e-mail obtained by The Associated Press, the president of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America told the trade group's board members that they would not support the healthcare bill" if the industry is given less than 12 years of competitive protection for the expensive products.

The pharmaceutical industry has been a crucial supporter of Obama's health effort, having spent many tens of millions of dollars on advertising and lobbying in support. Drug companies should profit from the millions of additional people who would be able to afford health coverage under the legislation.

The threat comes with White House officials and Democratic congressional leaders nearing an agreement on compromise legislation reshaping the nation's healthcare system.

With a deal so close, it was unclear whether the partnership between drugmakers and the administration was truly in jeopardy, or if the e-mail represented an effort by the industry to pressure the White House to drop its effort to shorten the period of competitive protection for biotech drugs.

Source: abc News

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