WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Tom Neely, chairman of Oxford Pharmaceuticals, testified Wednesday before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, urging Congress to recognize generic pharmaceuticals as critical national security infrastructure and implement policies that would enable domestic manufacturers to compete against heavily subsidized foreign producers.
Oxford operates one of America’s few remaining facilities engaged in domestic generic pharmaceutical manufacturing, transforming raw ingredients into finished medicines.
“I want to thank Chairman Scott and Ranking Member Gillibrand for their bipartisan leadership on this critical issue and their commitment to solutions that will protect American seniors,” Neely said. “Their focus on label transparency and supply chain security reflects what our aging population deserves—clarity about where their medicines come from and confidence in their safety.”
“My wife has mid-stage Parkinson’s Disease. Oxford manufactures one of her generic medicines, but it cannot be purchased in Birmingham,” Neely testified to the committee. “Hers is manufactured by a Chinese company.”
Neely outlined stark economic realities facing domestic manufacturers. On a weighted average, Oxford sells 100 tablets for $1.50. Medicare reimbursement for the same quantity averages $13.25. Intermediaries like pharmacy benefit managers and group purchasing organizations capture most of the difference while pitting domestic producers against state-subsidized foreign competitors.
The testimony highlighted Oxford’s capacity to expand production dramatically with appropriate policy support. The Birmingham facility currently operates at 55 percent utilization. Neely told the committee that an $18 million grant, coupled with multi-year federal procurement commitments, would allow Oxford to quadruple monthly output and double its workforce.
Neely presented four specific policy recommendations:
- Affirm generic pharmaceuticals as a national security industry under the U.S. Commerce Department’s ongoing Section 232 investigation;
- Prioritize legitimate domestic manufacturers in Veterans Affairs, Defense Department, and Medicare procurement through long-term contracts;
- Support domestic, vertically integrated API production through targeted grants and tax incentives to existing U.S. generic makers; and
- Require complete country-of-origin labeling so patients and healthcare providers know where medicines are manufactured.
Full video of the hearing was made available by the committee, as was Mr. Neely’s full written testimony.
About Oxford Pharmaceuticals
Oxford Pharmaceuticals is a Birmingham, Alabama-based manufacturer of generic oral solid-dose medicines. The company’s 150,000-square-foot facility produces 13 product families of chronic disease management medications taken daily by millions of Americans.
Learn more at www.oxford-rx.com.
Contacts
Media contact:
Stephen Wood
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