US fiscal 2009 Budget: winners include IP agencies, FDA to increase staff levels

The publication of US President George W Bush's final federal budget for the 2009 fiscal year has been met with a predictable mixture of support and condemnation in the health care sector. The Food and Drug Administration is due to receive a 5.7% raise to $2.4 billion across all areas. One item in particular has raised attention: a proposal to generate $16.6 million in user fees from generic drugmakers, in order to improve the review process for patent-expired products.

Research-based drugmakers are likely to approve of the increased resources provided to the US Patent and Trademark Office, as well as to the intellectual property and copyright enforcement programs of the State Department and International Trade Commission.

US Patent Office to get 8% budget increase