Generics

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart is offering prescriptions at no upfront cost to patients who enroll in the public health insurance marketplace, the mass-merchandise retailer said.

NEW YORK — The number of new drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration fell by more than 30% in 2013 compared with 2012, according to agency records.

Earlier this year, the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics, the research wing of the healthcare industry analysis firm IMS Health, dropped a bombshell when it showed that U.S. spending on drugs fell in 2012, the first time that had happened in 55 years. But according to IMS’ latest figures, it was not the start of a trend.

DUBLIN — Actavis said it was likely the first company to file with the Food and Drug Administration for approval of a generic version of a contraceptive device made by Merck, the generic drug maker said Tuesday.

Actavis said Warner Chilcott, now one of its subsidiaries, had filed with the FDA for approval of the ethinyl estradiol and etonogestrel vaginal ring in the 0.015-mg-per-day and 0.12-mg-per-day strengths. The device is a generic version of Merck's NuvaRing.

ATLANTA — This year's influenza virus is beginning its prominence in the South, as Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas reported high influenza-like illness activity, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday. 

Oklahoma reported moderate ILI activity. 

For those who got a flu shot this year, so far they appear to be well protected. 

CDC has antigenically characterized 317 influenza viruses, including 265 2009 H1N1 viruses, 46 influenza A (H3N2) viruses and 6 influenza B viruses since Oct. 1. 

WASHINGTON — The U.S. healthcare system saved $217 billion in 2012 thanks to the use of generic drugs, according to a new report by a generic drug industry trade group.

NEW YORK — A new study has found a significant increase in the number of high school students who report having abused a common prescription drug for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, even as abuse of other prescription drugs has decreased or remained low.

BALTIMORE — Lupin has launched a generic drug for treating HIV, following its victory in a patent-infringement suit in federal court, the Indian drug maker said Wednesday.

Lupin's U.S. subsidiary launched its generic version of ViiV Healthcare's Trizivir (abacavir sulfate; lamivudine; zidovudine) tablets in the 300-mg/150-mg/300-mg strength. The launch follows a ruling by the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware that the drug did not infringe on Viiv's patent.