Generics

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court has struck down a law in Vermont designed to encourage generic drug usage by limiting the sharing of information about what branded drugs doctors prescribe, so that drug companies could use it when crafting sales pitches, according to published reports.

HYDERABAD, India — Generic drug maker Dr. Reddy’s Labs has launched its version of a popular antibiotic.

The company said its levofloxacin tablets in the 250-mg, 500-mg and 750-mg strengths have entered the market, following the Food and Drug Administration's approval of Dr. Reddy's abbreviated new drug application. Dr. Reddy's levofloxacin tablets in the 250-mg and 500-mg strengths are available in 50-count bottles, while the 750-mg strength bottle is available in 30-count bottles.

HAYWARD, Calif. — Impax Labs has expanded its senior management team with two appointments.

The generic drug maker said that Mark Fitch has joined the company as SVP operations, while Jeff Nornhold will become SVP quality affairs. Fitch, who joins Impax from Nycomed US, brings more than 35 years of pharmaceutical experience to his role. Nornhold, who most recently served as VP quality operations at drug maker Watson, is a 20-year pharmaceutical industry veteran.

Both Fitch and Nornhold will report to Impax president and CEO Larry Hsu.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration Tuesday approved the first generic versions of an antibiotic designed to treat certain infections in people ages 18 years and older.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Watson subsidiary Watson Labs is seeking approval for a drug designed to treat symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia in men with an enlarged prostate.

The company filed an abbreviated new drug application to market dutasteride capsules in the 0.5-mg strength. The drug is a generic version of Avodart, which is made by GlaxoSmithKline.

PITTSBURGH — Mylan has scored a victory in its efforts to make a generic version of a Teva drug for multiple sclerosis.

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York denied Teva’s motion for a summary judgment finding no inequitable conduct in relation to Copaxone (glatiramer acetate).

The latest drug trend report from pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts estimated that if patients using maintenance medications used cheaper therapies when possible, adhered to their medication therapies and used home delivery, it could eliminate $403 billion in pharmacy waste every year.


The overall growth in drug spending for 2010 was 3.7%, according to the latest drug trend report by pharmacy benefit manager Medco Health Solutions. The lower increase 
was primarily due to higher rates of generic drug dispensing — more than 71% of drugs dispensed were generics.