Generics
Death sentence for six Chinese drug fakers
The Times of India reported on 10 December 2009 that six Chinese traders who exported fake anti-malaria drugs to Nigeria under the “Made in India“ label have been sentenced to death, the Ministry of Commerce in Beijing has said. But the ministry gave no further details about the identity of the traders.
EGA warning sounded over generic drug tenders
European Generic medicines Association (EGA)’s newly elected President, Mr Didier Barret, called for a “sustainable pricing system” for generic medicines to address unfair competition caused by large-scale government tenders for the products. Mr Barret, who also serves as head of Mylan's operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, made the remark as the organisation works on recommendations for expediting the approval of copycat drugs after patent expiration.
EU to seek details of drugmakers' patent deals
EU regulators will ask drug companies for details of deals with makers of generic medicines as part of a crackdown on firms suspected of blocking cheaper treatments, a European Commission (EC) official said on 19 November 2009.
Pfizer aims for Japanese generics market
Yet another US drugmaker is making eyes at Japan. Pfizer, the world's largest drugmaker, said on 19 November 2009 that it may start selling generic drugs in Japan from 2011 as part of its efforts to diversify its operations.
Multinationals trying to bring Indian generics into disrepute
India has alleged that some multinational companies have again been trying to bring its generics industry into disrepute.
Generic polypill could reduce heart disease
Could a combination of three blood-pressure-lowering drugs at low doses, with a statin, aspirin, and folic acid in one pill (the polypill), reduce cardiovascular events by more than 80% in healthy individuals? This was examined in a study funded by Cadila Pharmaceuticals in Ahmedabad, India (that wants to market the polypill as the ‘Polycap’), in which the effect of such a pill was assessed on blood pressure, lipids, heart rate, and urinary thromboxane B2, as well as its tolerability.
Growing generic injectables market: a cousin to biosimilars
Drugmakers are waking up to the opportunities in the generic injectables market for several reasons, not least of which are the high-profit margins the products can deliver. The segment also involves fast-growing therapeutic areas like oncology, anti-infectives and central nervous system (CNS) disorders. And for companies with an eye on the long-term prize, commercial and manufacturing experience in specialty generics could pave the way for a smoother entry into the biosimilars market when a regulatory pathway for low-cost biologics is created in the US.
India and EU to resolve generic drug dispute
India will resolve a dispute with the EU over generic drugs in an amicable way, Trade Minister Anand Sharma said on 6 November 2009.
Competition in China’s generic drug market intensifies
Patent protection for 35 kinds of the best-selling drugs is on track to expire by 2010, including medicines for the treatment of ulcers, hypertension and hyperlipemia. This is expected to have a major impact on the Chinese pharmaceutical industry, where generic drugs account for 97% market share. Industry analysts pointed out that although China has a large production scale of generic drugs, the level of technology remains relatively low. China is home to more than 6,000 pharmaceutical makers. Most of them battle it out at the low end of the price scale with the result that, the country’s profit margin in generic drugs is only equal to one-sixth of the international average.
Generics drive Dr Reddy's Q2 revenues up 14%
On 23 October 2009, Dr Reddy's Laboratories in India reported a 14% increase in consolidated revenues to Rs18.4 billion (Euros 263.94 million) for the second quarter that ended on 30 September 2009, driven by growth in the generics business.