Generics

WASHINGTON — The chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee highlighted the human tragedy wrought by last year's fungal meningitis outbreak linked to contaminated injectable steroids as he spoke in favor of a new law that would regulate compounding pharmacies and implement federal track-and-trace policies for drugs during a recent speech.

WASHINGTON — As cold and flu season kicks into high gear, the Acetaminophen Awareness Coalition on Tuesday issued a nationwide safety message urging consumers to double-check their medicine labels so they don’t double-up on medicines that contain acetaminophen when treating winter illnesses. 

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Hospira had sales of $1 billion in third quarter 2013, the generic drug maker said.

Hospira, which specializes in making generic injectable drugs, as well as biosimilars for the European market, said the sales figures for the quarter were a 1.4% increase over the $994 million in sales reported in third quarter 2012. Profits for the quarter were $84.5 billion, compared with $78.4 billion during the same period last year.

PITTSBURGH — Mylan has launched its generic version of a drug used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease, the U.S.-based generic drug maker said Monday.

Mylan announced the launch of rabeprazole sodium extended-release tablets in the 20-mg strength, a generic version of Eisai's Aciphex. The Food and Drug Administration approved generic versions of Aciphex made by six companies on Friday.

Aciphex had sales of about $830.1 million during the 12-month period that ended in September, according to IMS Health. 

BALTIMORE — Indian drug maker Lupin has launched its generic version of a drug used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease, the company said Monday.

Lupin announced the launch of rabeprazole sodium extended-release tablets in the 20-mg strength, a generic version of Eisai's Aciphex. The Food and Drug Administration approved generic versions of Aciphex made by six companies on Friday.

Aciphex had sales of about $864.3 million during the 12-month period that ended in June, according to IMS Health.

The United States is leading in its preference for generic drugs. According to a new report by Rhinebeck, N.Y.-based Phoenix Marketing International, 37% of American consumers expressed a preference for generic drugs when they were available, compared with 22% of the French, 21% of Canadians and 12% of Britons. The study was based on 810 consumers in the four countries.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved six generic versions of a drug used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, the agency said Friday.

The FDA announced the approval of the first generic versions of Eisai's Aciphex (rabeprazole sodium) delayed-release tablets for patients aged 12 and older. The generic products are made by Dr. Reddy's Labs, Kremers Urban Pharmaceuticals, Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Teva Pharmaceuticals USA and Torrent Pharmaceuticals.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — When the maker of a branded drug updates the safety information on its product labeling, makers of generic versions of that drug must wait until the Food and Drug Administration approves the new labeling before they can update theirs, but that could soon change under a rule proposed by the FDA.