Schumer-Edwards bill

Title I: Greater Access to Affordable Pharmaceuticals - Greater Access to Affordable Pharmaceuticals Act of 2002 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to revise provisions concerning the timing of generic drug availability.

(Sec. 103) Requires applicants (pharmaceutical companies) to register their patents with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) within 30 days of approval (or issuance for subsequently issued patents).

Makes failure to timely register a bar to civil actions for patent infringement.

Requires applications for new drugs (NDA) or abbreviated new drug applications (ANDA) which rely upon investigations not conducted by or for the applicant and which concern a patent that claims both the drug and a method of use or more than one method of use to include a certification on a claim-by-claim basis that the patent is invalid or will not be infringed (known as a Paragraph IV filing/certification) by the new drug's (generic) manufacture and a statement regarding the method(s) of use claim.

(Sec. 104) Prohibits (for subsequently issued patents) an extension of the 30 month stay of FDA approval for any new drug where an ANDA or NDA contains a Paragraph IV filing/certification and the patent holder indicates an intention to bring a patent infringement suit against the new (generic) drug's manufacturer.

Makes failure to timely file (within 45 days of notice of a Paragraph IV filing) a civil action for infringement a bar to later action.

(Sec. 105) Requires the first generic applicant with a Paragraph IV filing to forfeit the 180 day marketing exclusivity period to a subsequent generic applicant if the first generic applicant engages in certain behaviors which cause the generic drug not to be brought timely to market.

(Sec. 106) Revises notice requirements for Paragraph IV filings to include and protect certain proposed formulation, composition, or method of use information.

Excludes an applicants's ability to pay damages from a court's consideration of whether or not to provide injunctive relief before the expiration of the 30 month stay of approval period.

(Sec. 107) Continues existing regulations and authorities regarding the bioequivalence of drugs and biological products.

(Sec. 108) Requires the Federal Trade Commission to report to Congress on how this Act has brought generic drugs to market faster.

(Sec. 109) Makes technical and conforming amendments.

Title II: Importation of Prescription Drugs - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to permit pharmacists and wholesalers to import (reimport) U.S. made prescription drugs into the United States from Canada.

Requires an importer to keep detailed records, including a drug's formulation, lot or control number, chain of distribution, and laboratory records.

Requires Canadian sellers to register with the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to suspend the importation of a drug or importations by a particular importer if a pattern emerges which suggests a risk to public health through counterfeit or other violations.

Prohibits drug manufacturers from offering pharmacists and wholesalers terms less favorable than those offered to a foreign purchaser. Prohibits a manufacturer from restricting access to a prescription drug that is permitted to be imported into the United States.

Declares that enforcement efforts concerning importation of prescription drugs by individuals should focus on significant threats to public health rather than importation that is clearly for personal use, particularly importation from Canada.

Provides for studies and reports to Congress by the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine and the Comptroller General concerning the effects of this Act, addressing compliance issues as well as its effect on trade, patent rights, and pricing.

Authorizes appropriations.

(Sec. 202) Amends title IX of the Social Security Act (Medicaid ) to permit States to enter into Medicaid-like drug rebate agreements with drug manufacturers on behalf of non-Medicaid residents.

(Sec. 203) Provides additional, temporary funding to States through the Medicaid FMAP (Federal medical assistance percentage) if a State plan's eligibility requirements are no more restrictive than those in effect on January 1, 2002. Increases the cap on Medicaid payments to the territories.

Amends title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) to provide State fiscal relief allotments, available through FY 2004.