Nevada Legislature looks to defend law against drug companies

CARSON CITY — The Nevada Legislature has filed a motion to intervene as a defendant in a federal lawsuit that challenges a state law that requires disclosure of how insulin is priced.

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and the Biotechnology Innovation Organization say the Nevada law passed this year is unconstitutional. The groups maintain the legislation improperly interferes with federal patent law because the disclosure requirements it imposes penalize pricing decisions that are consistent with the patent rights granted by Congress.

Henderson Republican Sen. Michael Roberson brought forward Senate Bill 539 after the pharmaceutical industry objected to a similar bill brought forward by state Sen. Yvanna Cancela, D-Las Vegas.

Gov. Brian Sandoval and Department of Health and Human Services Director Richard Whitley are named as defendants in the lawsuit. The Legislature on Tuesday filed its motion to defend the law.

Contact Ben Botkin at bbotkin@reviewjournal.com or 775-461-0661. Follow @BenBotkin1 on Twitter.