Generics

PHILADELPHIA — Sandoz will market an authorized generic version of an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder drug made by Shire under a contract between the two companies, Shire said Monday.

Shire said Sandoz, the generics division of Swiss drug maker Novartis, would market an authorized generic version of Adderall XR (amphetamine; dextroamphetamine).

LONDON — Researchers at the University of Dundee and University College London on Wednesday found that taking the maximum daily dose of some medicines would exceed the recommended daily limits for sodium, without any additional dietary intake and potentially become an added risk factor for heart disease.

They say the public "should be warned about the potential dangers of high sodium intake from prescribed medicines" and that sodium-containing formulations "should be prescribed with caution only if the perceived benefits outweigh the risks."

SILVER SPRING, Md. — A new study is helping to provide a better understanding of vaccines for whooping cough, the Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday. Based on an animal model, the study shows that acellular pertussis vaccines licensed by the FDA are effective in preventing the disease among those vaccinated, but suggests that they may not prevent infection from the bacteria that causes whooping cough in those vaccinated or its spread to other people, including those who may not be vaccinated.

SAN MATEO, Calif. – The number of patients receiving prescriptions for statins is expected to increase modestly following new cholesterol recommendations from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association, according to a new report.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Generic drug maker Hospira will have its investor conference next week, the company said Tuesday.

The drug maker, based in the Chicago area, will have the investor day at its headquarters on Dec. 5. Hospira specializes in manufacturing injectable generic drugs, including biosimilars for the European market.

The event will include slide presentations, and the company will stream it via audio webcast at its investors website, hospirainvestor.com.

PRINCETON, N.J. — Sandoz has launched an authorized generic version of a topical drug for treating actinic keratosis, the company said.

Sandoz, the generics arm of Swiss drug maker Novartis, announced the launch of authorized generic diclofenac gel in the 3% strength. The drug is a version of PharmaDerm's Solaraze.

JERUSALEM — Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has launched its generic version of a drug for patients with cystic fibrosis, the Israeli drug maker said Thursday.

Teva announced the launch of tobramycin inhalation solution, a generic version of Novartis' drug Tobi. The Food and Drug Administration approved Teva's product last month. The drug is used to treat CF in patients whose lungs contain bacteria called Pseudomonas aeroginosa.

Tobi had sales of about $350 million during the 12-month period that ended in June, according to IMS Health.

It has been called “the blockbuster drug of the century,” the holy grail of health care and the next great frontier in the search for a more responsive and cost-effective healthcare system. But is it a truly achievable goal, and will it really transform the way health care is delivered in the United States?