Generics/Research

Evaluating success: generics substitution policy in Chile

Generics/Research | Posted 27/09/2019

The effectiveness of Chile’s 2014 generics substitution policy has been assessed by an international team of researchers. In their BMJ Global Health [1] article, the authors reveal that, although there has been a decrease in the uptake of expensive originator drugs, this is not mirrored by an increase in the uptake of less expensive bioequivalent products. This shows that further work is needed to help increase the uptake of generics in Chile.

Generics in Chile: policy success but promotion required

Generics/Research | Posted 20/09/2019

A first-time evaluation [1] of Chile’s generics substitution policy has shown that there has been a decrease in sales of branded originator medicines since policy implementation in 2014. However, this was not mirrored by an increase in sales of the corresponding generic drug products. The BMJ Global Health [1] article authors note that, to improve access to medicines in Chile, more work needs to be done to promote the uptake of generics.

TRIPS flexibilities: current and future use in the SADC region

Generics/Research | Posted 13/09/2019

In response to the HIV/AIDS crisis of the late 1990s, several legal options were introduced to facilitate access to lower-cost treatments. These included flexibilities in the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement, known as ‘TRIPS flexibilities’. In a recent review, authors ‘t Hoen, Kujinga and Boulet describe TRIPS flexibilities and discuss their current and future use in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region [1].

Improving access to medicines: the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement

Generics/Research | Posted 06/09/2019

In a recent review, authors ‘t Hoen, Kujinga and Boulet describe the role of the Doha Declaration on the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement in improving access to essential medicines [1].

Patent challenges in the SADC region

Generics/Research | Posted 30/08/2019

High pharmaceutical prices restrict access to essential medicines. New medicines are often patent protected which sustains prices well above the cost of production. This problem was particularly apparent during the HIV/AIDS crisis in the late 1990s. At this time, 40 million people were believed to be infected with HIV in the developing world and only one in a thousand had access to the required antiretroviral medicines (ARVs). This situation led to conflicts regarding patents for HIV medicines, only a few years after the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the WTO Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement. TRIPS established international standards to protect intellectual property, including a 20-year patent protection for medicines.

Generic irbesartan is safe and effective, shows phase IV trial

Generics/Research | Posted 23/08/2019

Generic versions of the anti-hypertensive irbesartan are equally effective as their branded counterparts, finds a phase IV study conducted in Korea. The study also found that irbesartan is less effective in patients with a high body mass index (BMI) or a history of anti-hypertensive use, suggesting more intensive treatment may be needed in some patients [1].

Prices for infectious disease treatments and how to reduce them

Generics/Research | Posted 16/08/2019

A recent review from Harvard Medical School explores the factors fuelling high drug prices in the US, suggesting several ways to avoid exorbitant pricing, including increasing clinician awareness of healthcare costs [1].

Generic Drug User Fee Act is a benefit to the Indian pharmaceutical industry, study finds

Generics/Research | Posted 26/07/2019

The Generic Drug User Fee Act (GDUFA) has had positive effects on generics manufacturers in India, providing increased return on investment and encouraging compliance with US regulation, recent analysis suggests [1].

Adherence to generic versus brand-name statins and associated clinical and economic outcomes

Generics/Research | Posted 24/05/2019

Despite evidence supporting the efficacy of statins for the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease, a lack of adherence to statin treatment continues to be a major problem. Sicras-Mainar and colleagues investigated real-world treatment persistence and medical possession for generic versus brand-name statins used in routine clinical practice, and assessed associated clinical and economic outcomes [1].

Costs and prices of entecavir to treat Hepatitis B

Generics/Research | Posted 25/03/2016

In an analysis of the costs and target prices of Hepatitis B treatment entecavir, author Andrew Hill from Liverpool University, UK and colleagues from Imperial College London, UK and Howard University, Washington DC, USA investigated how use of generics is affecting the cost of Hepatitis B treatment around the world [1].