A sustainable generics industry in the EU

INICIO/Informes | Posted 19/08/2011 post-comment

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Today, generic medicines play an essential role in treating disease by increasing the accessibility and affordability of modern day pharmaceuticals. It is therefore essential to ensure that generics can enter the market as soon as possible after patent and data exclusivity protections expire and compete effectively in order to maintain a sustainable generics industry.

The three pillars for obtaining such a sustainable generics industry are as follows:

Fair access to market

No hurdles to entry after patent/data exclusivity expiry
Efficient EU regulatory framework

Fair pricing

Profitability
Affordability
Savings

Fair competition

Stimulate market competition
Ban anti-competitive behaviours

The long-term sustainability of the generic medicines sector relies on fair prices and a level playing field. Acceptable margins across the entire generic medicines supply chain will be essential if their full value is to be realised. It is important to increase patient access to generic medicines and there are many benefits to be gained from their faster uptake. Treating them solely as a cost-saving mechanism will serve only to stifle their ability to deliver continued benefits long-term.

Generic medicines provide an opportunity to obtain similar treatments at lower costs for patients and payers, while liberating budgets for financing new innovative medicines. However, in order to achieve these benefits there needs to be a level playing field and governmental policies which maintain a sustainable generics industry.

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Source: EGA, IMS Health