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Generics/News

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Generic prices in Australia slashed

Generics/News | Posted 06/05/2011

In response to an article by Professor Philip Clarke in the Australian Financial Review titled Time to slash cost of generics, Medicines Australia Chief Executive Dr Brendan Shaw hit back saying that ‘the price of generic medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) is already being reduced by as much as 70%.’

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Branded generics and generics branding for Merck and sanofi-aventis

Generics/News | Posted 06/05/2011

While Merck is getting a firm foothold in emerging markets with a branded generics deal with India-based Sun Pharma, sanofi-aventis has decided to unify its generics business under the brand name Zentiva.

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FDA rejects pseudoephedrine application due to deficiencies

Generics/News | Posted 29/04/2011

On 11 March 2011 SCOLR Pharmaceuticals announced it had received a letter from the FDA identifying deficiencies regarding its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for its generic extended-release pseudoephedrine.

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Indian generics companies to strengthen in 2011

Generics/News | Posted 01/04/2011

Dispute with EU resolved

The EU and India have resolved a dispute about the seizure of generic medicines passing through Europe en route to Africa and Latin America. In 2009, the EU repeatedly seized generic drugs originating in India as they passed through European ports on their way to Brazil.

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New ANDAs and patent challenges for Impax Laboratories

Generics/News | Posted 04/03/2011

Impax Laboratories is facing a whole barrage of patent litigation following its latest Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) filings and approvals with the FDA.

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Germany tightens controls on pharmaceutical prices

Generics/News | Posted 15/04/2011

The German government is contemplating pharmaceutical price control legislation as it battles soaring drug spending. On the one hand Germany is keen to promote the use of generic drugs and generic medicines have already achieved high penetration—75% by volume in 2009. This highlights opportunities for generic manufacturers in Europe's largest, albeit competitive, drug market.

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India under attack

Generics/News | Posted 08/04/2011

India is coming under attack from Big Pharma from all angles it seems. On the one hand the Indian Government has alleged that multinational companies are campaigning against the country’s domestic pharmaceutical industry due to India’s increasing generic global presence. Then on the other hand Novartis has been asked to end its challenge to Indian patent law, with claims that its action could hinder global access to medicine.

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Sun Pharma continues to expand its generics portfolio

Generics/News | Posted 01/04/2011

Sun Pharma is keeping up the momentum in the generics market with several new generics recently gaining FDA approval and with an extensive pipeline on the way. The latest generics to come out of the company include drugs for the treatment of hypertension, allergic rhinitis and depression.

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Strong lobbying by Canadian Generics Association

Generics/News | Posted 25/03/2011

The President of the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association (CGPA), Mr Jim Keon, has been speaking up on behalf of Canadian generic companies in two recent statements. Canada and the EU are currently in negotiations for a comprehensive economic and trade agreement, which they hope to conclude before the end of 2011.

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European Parliament gives go-ahead for EU patent

Generics/News | Posted 18/03/2011

Despite doubts over the legality of the proposed linguistic regime, the European Parliament gave its green light on 15 February 2011 for use of a rarely used provision of the Lisbon Treaty known as ‘enhanced cooperation’ to launch a common EU patent system without Italy and Spain on board.

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Teva again files citizen petition against generic Copaxone

Generics/News | Posted 18/03/2011

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries announced on 12 December 2010 that the company had filed another Citizen’s Petition (CP) with the FDA requesting that the agency refuse to approve any abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) for generic versions of Copaxone (glatiramer acetate injection).

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Teva setbacks

Generics/News | Posted 11/03/2011

Teva axes 200 jobs as facility remains closed

After stopping all production at its plant in Irvine, California, USA; in April 2010, Teva announced on 20 January 2011 that all 200 jobs will go.

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Race you for US$1.8 billion

Generics/News | Posted 11/03/2011

The market for proton pump inhibitor pantoprazole in the US is estimated to be worth Euros 1.3 billion a year, and drug companies are scrambling to sell generic versions now that Pfizer’s patent has expired.

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Generics to cash in on swine flu epidemic

Generics/News | Posted 11/03/2011

Indian drug manufacturer Natco Pharma has filed an abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) with the FDA for a generic version of Tamiflu (oseltamivir), challenging Gilead Science’s patent protection on the drug.

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Impax challenges Simcor patent

Generics/News | Posted 25/02/2011

On 26 November 2010, generic drug maker Impax Laboratories announced that it is challenging the patent covering Abbott Laboratories’ cholesterol-treatment drug, Simcor (niacin/simvastatin).

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Pharmacy chains in Norway do not stock generics

Generics/News | Posted 04/02/2011

It turns out that pharmacy chains in Norway do not stock the cheapest generic products. This finding came after the Norwegian Medicines Agency (NoMA) investigated after receiving a complaint from the British generics manufacturer Arrow that its products were not sold in branches of the three largest pharmacy chains in Norway: Apotek1 (Phoenix), Vitusapotek (Celesio) and Alliance/Boots Apotek (Alliance Boots).

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Profits for generics’ giant Teva soar

Generics/News | Posted 31/01/2011

Israel-based generics’ giant Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has reported a third quarter 2010 profit rise of 47%, mainly attributed to sales of its multiple sclerosis drug Copaxone (glatiramer acetate), its acquisition of Ratiopharm and generic launches in the US.

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Ranbaxy gets 180-day exclusivity for Alzheimer’s generic

Generics/News | Posted 31/01/2011

On 30 November 2010, generics’ giant and India’s largest pharmaceutical manufacturer, Ranbaxy Laboratories, announced the launch of a generic version of Pfizer’s blockbuster Alzheimer’s treatment, Aricept (donepezil hydrochloride), in the US.