The Ohio Supreme Court has ruled that a proposal aimed at controlling prescription drug prices lacks enough valid signatures to meet the state's requirements, and backers must collect more for it to move ahead.
The court said Monday that roughly 10,000 signatures submitted by supporters of the Drug Price Relief Act were erroneously validated, and more than 5,000 signatures are now needed for the initiated statute.
The court says backers have until Aug. 25 to collect those signatures. Then the proposal could be resubmitted to the General Assembly.
Opponents including the Ohio Manufacturers' Association and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America had challenged the signature petitions.
The proposal aims to keep state entities from buying drugs at prices higher than the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs pays.