Generics

Two Rx-to-OTC switches in the past year may serve as a harbinger of what the Food and Drug Administration will consider “switch” worthy. They both address chronic care needs, and they both represent first of their kind medicines to the nonprescription aisle.

NORTH WALES, Pa. and BURLINGTON, Vt. — Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, a subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, and Volunteers in Medicine, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping communities provide free primary healthcare clinics for families and individuals, have announced their 2014 National Partnership to make healthcare services more readily available to the uninsured.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Wegmans has expanded its pharmaceutical services to include the family pet, according a recent blog. 

The supermarket pharmacy is advertising the service as a cheaper alternative to the prices paid at the veterinarian for the same canine/feline pharmaceuticals. Using Heartgard Plus Chew as an example, Wegmans noted that the common vet pricing is $50.20. Wegmans sells the same prescription for $44.99 and a generic equivalent for $19.99. 

JERUSALEM — Teva Pharmaceutical Industries will launch the generic version of Xeloda (capecitabine) tablets, 150 mg and 500 mg, in the United States. The drug is used to treat cancers that have metastasized.

Xeloda tablets, 150 mg and 500 mg had annual sales in the United States of approximately $754 million as of December 2013, according to IMS.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Fred's Super Dollar on Thursday posted $157.5 million in sales, representing a decline of 1%, for the four weeks ended March 1. Comparable store sales for the month decreased 2.2% compared with a decrease of 1.5% in the prior-year period.

“In the pharmacy department, we will continue to accelerate new pharmacy acquisitions and focus on our plan for EIRIS Health Services, Fred's specialty pharmacy unit, which is experiencing solid script and sales growth in this fast-expanding segment of the pharmacy industry," noted Bruce Efird, Fred's CEO.

MUMBAI and BALTIMORE — Lupin on Thursday announced that it received final approval from the Food and Drug Administration for its doxycycline capsules USP, 50 mg, 75 mg and 100 mg, which is the generic version of Aqua Pharmaceuticals' Monodox capsules. The drug is used to treat infections caused by various microorganisms and as an adjunctive therapy in severe acne, according to the company.

WASHINGTON — In anticipation of the March 13 deadline for comments on the FDA's proposed rule on prescription generic drug labeling, 21 health industry groups submitted a new letter to the agency on Thursday, raising concerns about the proposed regulation. 

WASHINGTON — The administration is seeking $4.7 billion for the Food and Drug Administration, representing a 6.8% increase, according to a report published Tuesday by the Washington Post. 

According to the report, the budget includes $25 million to register and inspect large-scale compounding pharmacies.