Florida has received authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration to import prescription drugs from Canada, where prices are often lower, the agency announced Friday.
The FDA added that it would work with other states to grant similar authorizations, with the requirement that "proposals must demonstrate the programs would result in significant cost savings to consumers without adding risk of exposure to unsafe or ineffective drugs."
Now, Florida will need to tell the FDA which drugs it intends to import, confirm that they meet FDA standards and relabel them.
Meanwhile, Big Pharma could push back against the FDA’s decision with litigation, according to Stephen Ubl, president and CEO of the drug industry trade group PhRMA.
"We are deeply concerned with the FDA's reckless decision to approve Florida's state importation plan," Ubl said in a statement.
"Ensuring patients have access to needed medicines is critical, but the importation of unapproved medicines, whether from Canada or elsewhere in the world, poses a serious danger to public health. ... PhRMA is considering all options for preventing this policy from harming patients."