entertainment

WASHINGTON — Neurocrine Biosciences, a biotech company based in California, has joined the drug lobbying organization PhRMA, the group announced on Thursday.

The addition is a step toward rebuilding PhRMA’s ranks after high-profile departures that followed the passage of Democrats’ drug pricing law, though both Neurocrine and the other company that joined since are smaller than those that exited.

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The company is a relatively big spender on lobbying, especially for its size. Neurocrine spent $3.1 million on its federal advocacy efforts last year alone. Compare that with Vertex Pharmaceuticals, which spent virtually the same amount on lobbying, even as it brought in nearly quadruple the net income that Neurocrine Biosciences did last year.

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