Generics

Doctors’ perceptions of generics in Guadeloupe and Martinique

Generics/Research | Posted 15/06/2018

Doctors in Guadeloupe and Martinique are not hostile towards generics but still mostly prescribe brand-name drugs due to patient preferences, according to a study analysing the perceptions of doctors towards generics in the French speaking territories [1].

Aurobindo and Lannett expand their generics portfolios

Generics/News | Posted 15/06/2018

Both Indian generics maker Aurobindo Pharma (Aurobindo) and US generics company Lannett have announced efforts to increase their generics portfolios.

Generics market failures and non-profit manufacturing

Generics/Research | Posted 08/06/2018

Competition usually keeps the price of generics well below that of brand-name drugs. However, when there is little or no competition, generics makers can substantially increase prices, which may lead to drug shortages. One way to address such market failures could be to introduce a non-profit generics maker to the market, according to researchers from Intermountain Healthcare, the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health [1].

FDA to boost generics and change drug rebates to lower prices

Generics/General | Posted 08/06/2018

In two recent speeches US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb has outlined plans to fight back against high drug prices. Two of the ways the agency plans to do this include increasing generics and targeting drug rebates

Antitrust activities in the pharmaceutical industry

Generics/Research | Posted 01/06/2018

High prices of prescription drugs have been highlighted as reducing access to essential drugs and have recently gained notoriety and political attention. Authors from Harvard Medical School and the law schools of the Northeastern and Rutgers Universities explain the role of antitrust law in restoring competition and restraining price increases [1].

China to exempt cancer drugs from import taxes

Generics/General | Posted 01/06/2018

Under a new policy that took effect on 1 May 2018, China will exempt as many as 28 medicines, including all cancer drugs, made overseas from import duties.

Encouraging generics could cause high prices

Generics/Research | Posted 25/05/2018

A provision introduced in October 2017 awards eligible drugmakers 180 days of exclusivity to market a generic version of one of a list of 267 medicines for which no generic version currently exists. The provision was introduced to encourage generics of off-patent drugs without generics, however, some believe it could lead to high prices [1].

Price of leukaemia drug in Japan halved

Generics/News | Posted 25/05/2018

Japanese drugmaker Ohara Pharmaceutical has reduced the price of its leukaemia generic imatinib to about half the price of the generics sold by its competitors to encourage leukaemia patients to use more affordable medication.

Hikma launches HIV generic ritonavir in the US

Generics/News | Posted 18/05/2018

Jordan-based drugmaker Hikma Pharmaceuticals (Hikma) announced on 20 March 2018 that its wholly owned US subsidiary West-Ward Pharmaceuticals Corp had launched generic ritonavir tablets (100 mg) in the US.

EMA collaboration on oversight of API makers

Generics/General | Posted 11/05/2018

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced on 12 April 2018 that it had published the International API inspection programme report for 2011−2016.

Alvogen receives European approval for generic lenalidomide

Generics/News | Posted 11/05/2018

US generics company Alvogen announced on 24 April 2018 that it had successfully concluded multiple registration procedures for its lenalidomide generic capsules.

Trends in use of Lipitor after introduction of generic atorvastatin

Generics/Research | Posted 04/05/2018

Big savings can be made after the introduction of generics, especially when it comes to high volume categories, such as statins. Pfizer’s Lipitor (atorvastatin) was the best-selling drug of all time until it lost its patent protection at the end of June 2011 [1] and a generic version became available in the US in November 2011 [2]. However, the impact of the introduction of generics on use of Lipitor is not known. Therefore, researchers from Duke and Yale Universities analysed trends in use and expenditures associated with Lipitor after generic atorvastatin became available [3].

Teva launches ulcerative colitis generic in the US

Generics/News | Posted 27/04/2018

Israeli generics giant Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (Teva) announced on 26 March 2018 that it had launched generic mesalamine delayed-release tablets (1.2 g) in the US.

Switchback rates between generic and brand-name drugs

Generics/Research | Posted 20/04/2018

A study carried out by researchers from Harvard Medical School found a lower rate of switchback when patients were switched to an authorized generic from the brand-name product rather than when they were switched to another generic drug product [1].

Generics companies defend against illegal ‘pay-for-delay’ charges

Generics/General | Posted 20/04/2018

In March 2018, pharmaceutical companies in the US and Europe have had to defend themselves against antitrust charges. Illegal ‘pay-for-delay’ deals enable companies to profit by delaying the release of generic drug products [1]. In recent months, generics manufacturers, Impax Laboratories Inc in the US and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (Teva) in Europe, have both been accused of entering into such deals with originator companies. In addition, US companies, Endo, Watson, Teikoku are to pay over US$270 million to settle pay-for-delay lawsuits over Endo’s Lidoderm (lidocaine) pain patch.

Australia’s Mayne Pharma launches generic antibiotic in US

Generics/News | Posted 13/04/2018

Australia-based Mayne Pharma announced on 15 March 2018 that it had launched a generic version of doxycycline monohydrate immediate release (IR) capsules (50, 75 and 100 mg) in the US.

Portugal increases use of generics for treatment of cardiovascular diseases

Generics/Research | Posted 06/04/2018

In Portugal, the use of medicines for cardiovascular system increased nearly two-fold between 2000 and 2010. As such, over a quarter of the overall expenditure on medicines during these years went towards the treatment of cardiovascular issues [1]. However, it is possible that there may be room for cost saving on these medicines through increased uptake of generic and essential medicines. A recent study by Gama et al. has outlined the trends in outpatient cardiovascular medicine use in Portugal between 2004 and 2012, with focus on the uptake of generic and essential medicines [2].

NGO urges HIV drug patent application to be denied in Argentina

Generics/General | Posted 06/04/2018

In March 2018, Argentine NGO, the Fundación Grupo Efecto Positivo (FGEP), requested that the country’s National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) deny Gilead Sciences Inc’s patent request for an antiretroviral drug.

Pharmaceuticals and products liability litigation

Generics/Research | Posted 30/03/2018

In 2016, healthcare spending represented 17.9% of the economy of the US, a slight increase from 2015. By 2016, the average consumer in the US expended US$1,100 per capita on prescription drugs. Authors Katie McCarthy and Richard Hunter discuss the interconnections between the different types of product liability claims related to marketing and manufacturing of drugs in the pharmaceutical industry, rising drug costs, the increasing availability of generics in the marketplace. They also discuss several major cases and the outcomes of those cases as they relate to the social responsibility of drug manufacturers [1].

GSK fined GBP 37.6 million in pay-for-delay appeal

Generics/News | Posted 30/03/2018

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has lost its appeal over a pay-for-delay case dating back to the early 2000s and involving its now off-patent antidepressant Seroxat/Paxil (paroxetine).