Generics

NEW YORK — The U.S. healthcare system could get at least $70 billion in savings over the next four years thanks to loss of patent protection for branded drugs, according to published reports.


IMS Health SVP Murray Aitken said at the Reuters Health Summit that generics also would increase their dominance in terms of prescriptions dispensed, increasing from 77% during the first half of this year to perhaps 85% by 2014, Reuters reported.


SAN FRANCISCO — McKesson Corp. on Monday reported revenue of $28.2 billion for its fiscal third quarter, ended Dec. 31, 2010. Third-quarter earnings per diluted share were 60 cents, which included a pre-tax average wholesale price litigation charge of $189 million ($133 million after-tax, or 52 cents per diluted share).

Years 2009 and 2010 were up and down for the generic drug industry and its main trade group, the Generic Pharmaceutical Association. On one hand, there were the departures of president and CEO Kathleen Jaeger and member company Teva Pharmaceutical Industries.

Just when you thought the low end of the generic drug price spectrum couldn’t get any more commoditized, the $2 price point debuted with a big splash in September 2010.


DETROIT — Caraco Pharmaceutical Labs had sales of $40.4 million during the third quarter of fiscal year 2011, and $268.2 million during the first nine months of the fiscal year, the company said in an earnings report released Sunday.

Caraco, whose fiscal year 2011 ended Dec. 31, 2010, said that it included sales of products that it owns and products that it distributes in the figures. The latest numbers compared with $52 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2010 and $178.4 million during the first nine months of fiscal year 2010.

CHADDS FORD, Pa. — Mylan has announced its intention to market a version of a painkiller made by Endo Pharmaceuticals and partner company Teikoku Seiyaku ahead of patent expiration.

Endo said Monday that Teikoku Seiyaku and U.S. subsidiary Teikoku Pharma USA had received a Paragraph IV certification from Mylan stating the latter’s intention to market a generic lidocaine topical patch. The drug is a generic version of Endo’s and Teikoku’s Lidoderm.

NEW YORK — A former Albertsons executive has been named the newest VP pharmacy at ECRM.

Italo Pennella, a licensed pharmacist, will utilize his insight on the pharmaceutical supply chain as ECRM's newest executive. At Albertsons, Pennella's career spanned more than 10 years, which included oversight of all brand manufacturer relationships. Prior to joining ECRM, Pennella most recently served as associated director of trade for Otsuka and Schering-Plough/Organon.

PITTSBURGH — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic hypertension treatment made by Mylan.

Mylan announced the approval Friday of nisoldipine extended-release tablets in the 8.5-mg, 17-mg, 25.5-mg and 34-mg strengths. The drug is a generic version of Shionogi Pharma’s Sular, which had sales of about $103 million during the 12-month period ended in September 2010, according to IMS Health.