Generics

INDIANAPOLIS — A biotech drug made by Eli Lilly for osteoporosis appeared no more or less effective than a pharmaceutical drug available as a generic in treating women with related bone fractures, but was more effective in some other measures, according to results of a late-stage clinical trial released Tuesday.

PITTSBURGH — Generic drug maker Mylan has begun commercial operations in India, focusing on drugs to treat HIV and AIDS, the company said Monday.

The company is launching 18 antiretroviral drugs for HIV/AIDS in India, which has the world's third-largest population of people with the disease, according to the National AIDS Control Organization.

PRINCETON, N.J. — Sandoz has launched a generic version of a topical medication used to treat psoriasis, the company said.

Sandoz, the generics arm of Swiss drug maker Novartis, announced the launch of calcipotriene cream in the 0.005% strength, calling it the first generic version of Leo Pharma's Dovonex.

Dovonex had sales of about $118.8 million during the 12-month period ended in May, according to IMS Health.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved several generic versions of a drug used to treat asthma and allergies, the agency said Friday.

The FDA announced the approval of montelukast sodium, a drug indicated for controlling asthma symptoms and relieving indoor and outdoor allergies.

The drug is a generic version of Merck's Singulair, which had sales of $4.6 billion in 2011, according to IMS Health.

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — Generic drug maker Amneal Pharmaceuticals will spend $120 million to expand three of its plants, the company said Monday.

Amneal said it would spend the money over a two-year period lasting through 2014 to "significantly" grow operations at research-and-development, manufacturing and distribution plants in New York, New Jersey and Kentucky. The company, which employs more than 1,100 people in the United States, said the expansion would create 500 more jobs.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — Astrologers would say this is the Age of Pisces, while the Chinese zodiac calls it the Year of the Dragon. For health care, it might be a good time to start calling it the "Great Generic Epoch."

The trend seen in the Generic Drug Savings study, in which generic drugs count for an overwhelming majority of prescriptions written but only about one-quarter of drug spending, has been happening for some time now. But it's also accelerating, and that means a lot for drug makers and policy-makers alike.

PITTSBURGH — Mylan and Gilead Sciences have made an agreement under which Mylan will have rights to produce and market generic versions of Gilead drugs for HIV and AIDS in developing countries.

The agreement, involving Gilead and Mylan subsidiary Mylan Labs Ltd., centers around drugs containing emtricitabine, the active ingredient in such drugs as Emtriva, and such fixed-dose combinations as Truvada (emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) and the experimental Quad.

WASHINGTON — Use of generic drugs has saved consumers and the healthcare system $1 trillion over the past decade, according to a new study released Thursday by a generic drug industry trade organization.

The Generic Pharmaceutical Association said that between 2002 and 2011, generics saved the country $1 billion every other day, totaling $193 billion in 2011.