Week in Washington

A congressional conference committee came to terms on a "minibus" bill that includes a 2012 budget for the FDA of nearly $3.8 billion.

Sen. Jeff Bingaman introduced the Fair and Immediate Release of Generic Drugs Act, S. 1882, which would attempt to dampen interest in pay-for-delay settlements by modifying the first filer provision to allow other generics to share the 180-day exclusivity.