Generics

For branded drug makers, the pharmaceutical patent cliff has never loomed higher or steeper. The exposure of so many of the world’s biggest-selling medicines to generic competition for the first time is redefining the pricing model for many of the most widely prescribed classes of pharmaceuticals — reducing costs for health plans, payers and patients; scrambling drug makers’ balance sheets; and potentially boosting both drug utilization and adherence rates as reduced out-of-pocket costs induce more patients to fill their prescriptions.


NEW YORK — Generic drug makers Hospira, Sagent Pharmaceuticals and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries have launched generic versions of a chemotherapy drug made by Sanofi, the three companies said last month.


Over the last few years of DSN’s coverage of the impending patent cliff and how it would affect the generic drug industry, IMS Health VP industry relations Doug Long predicted that the gradual commoditization of primary care drugs — long the lifeblood of generic drug makers — would lead to consolidation of the industry.


A trillion of anything is difficult to wrap one’s head around, whether it’s the number of grains of sand on a beach or stars in the sky. It’s so much easier for the human mind to look at such a quantity as the sum of its parts rather than on the basis of its individual components.


It’s a little hard not to say “Oh, how the mighty have fallen” when a retailer announces that it will give away for free what was once the world’s top-selling drug. But for retailers, it also makes good business sense.


LONDON — A study recently published in the Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation journal found that when more vaccinations are administered in an alternate setting, such as a pharmacy, employers realize a greater cost benefit. 

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic ulcer treatment made by Wockhardt, the Indian drug maker said Monday.

Wockhardt announced the approval and launch of lansoprazole delayed-release capsules in the 15-mg and 30-mg strengths. The drug is a generic version of Prevacid, which Takeda markets in the United States.

The drug has a market of about $700 million in the United States, according to IMS Health.

PHILADELPHIA — The Food and Drug Administration has granted regulatory approval for a generic drug to treat tension headaches.

Lannett announced the approval of butalbital, acetaminophen and caffeine tablets in the 50-mg/325-mg/40-mg strength. the drug is a generic version of Watson Pharmaceuticals' Fioricet.

Branded and generic versions of the drug had sales of $30 million during the 12-month period ended in July, including $15 million for branded Fioricet. Lannett plans to start shipping its version next month, the company said.