Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., is lead sponsor of the PREVAIL Act, which would increase the power of holders of weak patents to prevent prescription drug price competition. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Pool via AP)
Reducing prescription drug prices has long been a goal of Democrats in Congress and the White House. But in a strange twist, a group of Senate Democrats—along with one Republican—has backed a bill that would increase drug prices by preventing people from challenging weak or invalid patents.