Longtime Celgene executive Bob Hugin is launching a campaign to represent New Jersey in the U.S. Senate — making it likely that the high-stakes race in the pharmaceutical industry’s epicenter will become, at least in part, a referendum on drug prices.

Hugin, who retired earlier this month as Celgene’s chairman, plans to announce his candidacy on Tuesday. He’ll run as a Republican seeking to unseat Democrat Robert Menendez, who’s thought to be vulnerable in his quest for a third term after facing bribery charges in a case that has since been dropped.