Dems Push To Stop Patent Thickets In Lame Duck After USPTO Scraps Rule

Just after the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) scrapped a proposed rule that would have prohibited brand drug makers from asserting more patents than necessary on a drug to extend its market exclusivity, Democrats are pushing to include a measure to stop so-called patent thickets to save $1.8 billion in the lame-duck health package they are negotiating with Republicans, sources say.