Power lobbyists Brian Ballard and Ron Book scored a victory this morning, securing enough votes in the House healthcare council to defeat 10-7 an organ transplant drug bill pushed by brand name maker Astellas Pharma Inc. The lobby firm Johnson & Blanton is representing Astellas Pharma, whose patent on the immunosuppresent drug Prograf expires today.

The bill by Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff (673) would have required pharmacists who give organ transplant patients the generic version of a brand name drug to notify the prescribing doctor within 48 hours.

Critics say that would encourage pharmacists to favor brand name drugs like Astellas' over generic versions. Book even gave a rare public testimony: "This bill is intended to erect barriers to generics as we go down the road," he said. "We already have a generic drug law in Florida that works very well."

Supporters say the notification requirement doesn't mean generics should not be used, just that doctors should be notified in case they need to "tweak" the dosage or modify the patient's care.

"If generics worked exactly the same, maybe all we'd have is generics," Bogdanoff said. "But we don't. We're simply asking for communication between the doctor and the patient."

Among the no votes were Republican Reps. Juan Zapata and Jimmy Patronis. The bill died 10-7, with even council chairman Rep. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, voting no.