White House Assures Drug Makers on Reimportation

By ALICIA MUNDY

WASHINGTON—The chief lobbyist for brand-name drug makers said he has heard reassuring words from White House officials about the longstanding issue of allowing reimportation of prescription drugs from other countries.

Industry representatives met at the White House Tuesday with officials to consider specifics of a cost-saving agreement the industry reached last month with health-care negotiators and to discuss other concerns that the pharmaceutical industry has with the larger health-care overhaul being considered by Congress.

As a presidential candidate, President Barack Obama endorsed re-importation, an idea the industry opposes. White House officials have told the industry if the larger health care bill passes, the cost savings will be so great that reimportation will be unnecessary, according to Billy Tauzin, president of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.

Mr. Tauzin said major pharmaceutical chief executives attended the Tuesday meeting including Merck & Co.'s Richard Clark, Pfizer Inc.'s Jeffrey Kindler, Amgen Inc.'s Kevin Sharer, Abbott Laboratories' Miles White and AstraZeneca PLC's David Brennan. It wasn't clear who attended from the White House side. A White House official confirmed the meeting took place but didn't have immediate comment on what was discussed.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont, said he disagrees with any move to drop the reimportation idea. He has pushed to import drugs from Canada, where they are cheaper because of price controls. "I will fight for this," said Sen. Sanders, adding that he intends to raise the matter with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel "first thing in the morning."

Write to Alicia Mundy at alicia.mundy@wsj.com