Generics

WASHINGTON — The American Pharmacists Association is marking Pain Awareness Month by encouraging patients to talk with their pharmacists about pain and pain medications they're taking.

According to a recent report by the Institute of Medicine, more than 116 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, which costs the country up to $635 billion per year.

NEW YORK — Last year, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized $5.6 million worth of illegal pharmaceutical products, a 170% increase over 2005. Meanwhile, global sales of counterfeit medicines were estimated to be more than $75 billion last year, 90% more than in 2005.

In response, Pfizer and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy announced Thursday the launch of an effort to educate patients on how to safely buy medicines online and about the risks of counterfeit drugs.

NEW YORK — Supermarket pharmacies could see a slight rise in gross profits next year as branded drugs lose patent protection and go generic, according to a new report by Moody's Investors Service.

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — Sagent Pharmaceuticals has launched its new chemotherapy drug.

Sagent sent that its paclitaxel injection USP is available in 30-mg, 100-mg and 300-mg latex-free, multi-dose vials. Paclitaxel is indicated for use alone or with other drugs to treat ovarian cancer, breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer and AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma, Sagent said.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Intensive control of blood-sugar levels beyond standard targets provides no additional protection against cognitive decline in older people with diabetes than standard treatment, according to a national study coordinated by researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center that was published online in the The Lancet Neurology.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Watson Pharmaceuticals has launched a generic version of a contraceptive made by Warner Chilcott, Watson said Monday.

The drug maker announced the launch of chewable norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol tablets in the 0.4-mg/0.035-mg strength and chewable ferrous fumarate tablets in the 75-mg strength.

The product is a generic version of Warner Chilcott's Femcon Fe, which had sales of about $35 million during the 12-month period ended in July, according to IMS Health.

PHILADELPHIA — Lannett has received regulatory approval from the Food and Drug Administration for its version of an antipsychotic treatment.

The drug maker said the FDA approved its abbreviated new drug application for loxapine capsules in the 5-mg, 10-mg, 25-mg and 50-mg strengths. The drug is a generic version of Watson Pharmaceuticals' Loxitane.

YONKERS, N.Y. — A growing number of Americans are putting their health at risk in order to save money, according to a new study.

Consumer Reports' annual prescription drug poll found that 48% of respondents currently taking a prescription drug said they'd cut healthcare costs by putting off a doctor's visit or medical procedure, declining tests or ordering drugs from outside the United States — a 9% increase over 2010.