WASHINGTON (AP) – Drugmaker Eli Lilly and Co. hiked its spending on federal government lobbying to $2.3 million in the third quarter, as it focused on patent reform, trade issues and hospital discounts, among several issues.

The Indianapolis company’s spending total represented a 9 percent increase from 2010’s third quarter and a 20 percent rise compared with this year’s second quarter.

Among many other drugs, Lilly makes the antidepressant Cymbalta and the antipsychotic Zyprexa, which recently lost U.S. patent protection. The company lobbied on Medicare prescription drug coverage rebates, anti-counterfeiting and patient safety.

It also lobbied on the Bipartisan Tax Fairness and Simplification Act, pricing reforms in Greece and Germany and market access in Poland in July through September, according to a report the company filed last month with the clerk of the House of Representatives.

Food safety, veterinary medicine and antibiotic issues were other lobbying topics for Lilly, which has been touting its animal health business as a key source of future revenue growth.

The drugmaker lobbied Congress, the White House, the Office of Management & Budget, the U.S. trade representative and the Departments of Homeland Security, Treasury, State, Agriculture and Commerce.

A 1995 federal law requires lobbyists to disclose activities that could influence members of the executive and legislative branches of government.

Date: November 30, 2011
Source: Associated Press