Generics

It’s hard to disagree that generic drug companies have had a good run for the last several years. Branded drug companies developed a large number of drugs that proved highly effective at treating widespread medical conditions and became blockbusters, garnering billions of dollars in sales in the United States alone. As patents on these blockbuster drugs have expired, they’ve provided generic manufacturers with enormous revenues, helping some to join the ranks of the world’s biggest drug companies.


WASHINGTON — The Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Minority Health, the American Association of Diabetes Educators and AT&T on Monday announced an initiative to evaluate the use of mobile devices to deliver diabetes self-management training within an underserved minority community in Dallas.

NEW YORK — While settlements constitute the most prominent patent-related issue for generic drugs, two others have cropped up this year as well.


PISCATAWAY, N.J. — The blockbuster movie release of "Contagion" this past weekend may drive more people to seek out their flu shot, proposed the director of the New Jersey Center for Public Health Preparedness. "Contagion," a movie that mirrors the H1N1 pandemic of 2009, was the No. 1 movie coming out of the weekend with an estimated $23.1 million debut.

The issue of patent settlements, their effect on drug prices and availability, and by extension their legality has been around for a long time and will likely remain an issue for years to come. But according to a report released in May by the Federal Trade Commission, the settlements have been on the rise, increasing from 16 in 2009 to 31 in 2010.


While it has been a boon to elderly Americans, Medicare Part D includes a complicating factor that has proven to be a headache.


Despite its seemingly charming name, the doughnut hole has proven to be a headache for many seniors. Also known as the Medicare Part D coverage gap, the doughnut hole is when drug costs reach a point when the patient becomes responsible for the entire cost, and Medicare doesn’t pay for them again until they reach the catastrophic-coverage threshold. The hole and threshold change from year to year.


DEERFIELD, Ill. — With more than 1 million fans on Facebook and the largest following on Foursquare among chain drug store retailers, Walgreens is using these social media platforms to let its customers help distribute more than $6 million in free flu shot vouchers to five national charities, the Chicago-area chain announced Friday.

Walgreens is working with the American Diabetes Association, AmeriCares, Feeding America, League of United Latin American Citizens and the National Urban League on an initiative to help provide up to 200,000 flu shot vouchers.

PITTSBURGH — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic drug made by Mylan for treating allergies.

Mylan announced Friday the approval of promethazine hydrochloride tablets in the 12.5-mg, 25-mg and 50-mg strengths.

Promethazine hydrochloride tablets, which are manufactured by several companies, had sales of about $42 million during the 12-month period ended in June, according to IMS Health.