Generics

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — "Dispense-as-written" prescriptions are exacerbating medication nonadherence and costing the U.S. healthcare system billions of dollars, according to a new study by researchers at Harvard University, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and CVS Caremark.

HYDERABAD, India — Indian generic drug maker may end its five-year stint as a retail pharmacy operator, according to published reports.

The Hindu Business Line reported Thursday that Natco was considering the sale of the SaveMart Pharmacy store in Lancaster, Pa.

MORRISTOWN, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic treatment for shingles and genital herpes made by Actavis, the drug maker said Wednesday.

The FDA approved Actavis’ valacyclovir hydrochloride tablets in the 500-mg and 1-g strengths.

The drug is a generic version of GlaxoSmithKline’s Valtrex. Branded and generic forms of the drug had sales of about $1.5 billion in 2010, according to IMS Health.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic drug for cardiovascular disease made by Qualitest Pharmaceuticals.

Qualitest announced Thursday the approval of toresmide tablets in the 5-mg, 10-mg, 20-mg and 100-mg strengths.

The drug is used to treat edema associated with congestive heart failure, kidney disease or hepatic disease, and also for hypertension.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — The U.S. subsidiary of India-based generic drug maker Hetero Drugs has appointed Konstantin Ostaficiuk as its president, Camber said.

Ostaficiuk, who often goes by the nickname of Kon, succeeds Briggs Arrington, who has gone on to work for Hetero’s senior management team to find new opportunities for the company’s U.S. manufacturing operations. Ostaficiuk has worked in the generic drug industry for 25 years, having joined Camber in 2009 as VP sales and marketing.

AMITYVILLE, N.Y. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a topical pain treatment made by Hi-Tech Pharmacal, the drug maker said Thursday.

The agency approved Hi-Tech’s sterile lidocaine jelly in the 2% strength, used for treating pain in procedures involving the urethra, painful urethritis and in endotracheal intubation.

Various versions of the drug had sales of $17 million in 2010, according to IMS Health.

PRINCETON — Sandoz has introduced an authorized generic version of a herpes treatment made by parent company Novartis, the company said Thursday.

Sandoz announced the launch of famciclovir tablets, an authorized generic of Famvir, used to treat genital herpes and cold sores in patients with healthy immune systems, and to treat shingles and herpes simplex infections of the skin and mucosa in patients with HIV.

Authorized generics are branded drugs sold under their generic chemical names at a reduced price, often through third-party companies.

PITTSBURGH — Though more than 7-in-10 drugs dispensed in the United States today are generics, and the Food and Drug Administration holds generics to the same standards as branded drugs, misgivings among the general public still exist, fed by the occasional media report of patients experiencing bad side effects after taking certain generic drugs.