Generics

Generics will not have to change their labelling

Generics/News | Posted 08/07/2011

The US Supreme Court has decided that generics makers cannot be sued under state law for not changing their labels to warn of possible side effects. That is a big victory for Actavis, Mylan and Teva, which had faced appeals against court rulings that would have allowed them to be sued under state law.

The ‘Wise List’ - a Swedish drug formulary

Generics/Research | Posted 08/07/2011

Research carried out by Lars Gustafsson and et al. [1] into the use and acceptance of a drug formulary used in Stockholm, Sweden, found that adherence to the ‘Wise List’ resulted in substantial cost savings due to increased use of cheaper generic drugs.

Savings to be made and compliance with generic antidepressants

Generics/Research | Posted 24/06/2011

Vlahiotis A et al. compared discontinuation rates and healthcare utilisation costs among patients using brand-name versus generic antidepressants.

No difference between generic and brand-name antidepressants

Generics/Research | Posted 17/06/2011

Patients who start treatment for depression with generic drugs benefit from significantly lower costs and are just as likely to keep taking their medication as those who start on brand-name medicines new research suggests.

Pfizer in joint venture with Chinese generics maker Hisun

Generics/News | Posted 17/06/2011

US pharma giant Pfizer announced on 2 June 2011 that it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Chinese generics manufacturer Zhejiang Hisun Pharmaceuticals (Hisun) on their intention to establish a joint venture. This potential partnership would aim to strengthen the ability of both companies to reach more patients with high-quality and low-cost medicines in the branded generics arena.

Compliance with generic drug use among Pakistani immigrants

Generics/Research | Posted 10/06/2011

Patients using antihypertensives, antidiabetics or cholesterol-lowering drugs were interviewed using a questionnaire in the study which investigated the perceptions of generic substitution among Pakistani immigrants in Oslo, Norway, and how this affected compliance with their long-term drug use and may be affected by confusion of generic drugs with counterfeit drugs [1].

Different routes for generics and brand-name drugs

Generics/Research | Posted 06/06/2011

Comparison of the route to market generics and brand-name drugs was discussed by Dr Lewek and Dr Kardas in their recent research paper on the benefits and risks of generic substitution.

Perception of generic drugs as fake among Pakistani immigrants

Generics/Research | Posted 06/06/2011

Pakistani immigrants in Norway may confuse generic drugs with counterfeit drugs, according to research carried out by Norwegian researchers [1].

The benefits of generic substitution

Generics/Research | Posted 27/05/2011

Recent research carried out by Drs Lewek and Kardas, showed that generic drugs are equally as safe and effective as their brand-name equivalents. Patient compliance and cost were also found to be better with generics compared to brand-name drugs.

Generic warfarin as safe and effective as brand name

Generics/Research | Posted 27/05/2011

In a literature study by Dr Francesco Dentali and colleagues found that generic warfarin was as safe as brand name warfarin (Coumadin) [1].

Pakistani immigrants may confuse generics with counterfeit drugs

Generics/Research | Posted 27/05/2011

A study by Norwegian researchers showed that generics substitution may lead to lack of compliance in Pakistani immigrants in Norway, due to misconceptions and confusion with counterfeit drugs [1].

Benefits and risks of generic substitution

Generics/Research | Posted 20/05/2011

According to the FDA, each year, Americans save an estimated US$8–10 billion by purchasing generic drugs rather than branded medications. These savings are, of course, the key advantage of generics. However, the very reason for these cost savings—the fact that generic drugs do not have to undergo the large, expensive clinical trials that are required for approval of branded drugs—gives rise to questions about the quality and safety of generics.

Europe’s industry concerned about converging prices and patient access

Generics/General | Posted 20/05/2011

In response to a report on reference pricing in the EU, the European Federation of the Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) says that while ‘it is rational for a Member State without resources to assess the value [of a medicine] to refer to a similar country that does … it is not appropriate for higher-income countries to mechanistically refer to prices in countries with a much lower purchasing power’.

Generic substitution generates savings in South Africa

Generics/Research | Posted 20/05/2011

Savings of 9.3% over the 3-year study period could have been made with generic substitution of antidepressants according to research carried out by the School of Pharmacy at the North-West University, South Africa.

Mylan’s attempt to stop Ranbaxy’s Lipitor exclusivity fails

Generics/News | Posted 20/05/2011

On 2 May 2011 a federal judge dismissed Mylan’s attempt to block rival generic company Ranbaxy Laboratories from launching a generic version of Pfizer’s blockbuster cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor (atorvastatin) and trying to terminate Ranbaxy’s rights to sell generic atorvastatin in the US on an exclusive basis for six months.

Concerns over international reference pricing in the EU

Generics/General | Posted 13/05/2011

An independent report commissioned by the European Parliament’s committee for Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) has highlighted some problems with access to medicines due to the widely used practice of international reference pricing within the EU [1].

Generic substitution rates in South Africa

Generics/Research | Posted 13/05/2011

Research carried out by the School of Pharmacy at the North-West University, South Africa, has shown that generic substitution rates for antidepressants increased between 2004 and 2006. Meanwhile antidepressant use decreased over the same period while the average cost decreased in 2005, but increased again in 2006.

Ranbaxy launches generic olanzapine in Spain

Generics/News | Posted 13/05/2011

Eli Lilly may be facing pressure as generics makers queue up to produce copies of its blockbuster antipsychotic drug Zyprexa (olanzapine). On 25 April 2011,the first day after Eli Lilly’s patent exclusivity expired in Spain, Ranbaxy Laboratories announced that it had launched its generic version of the treatment.