Generics/Research

Medicare Part D has no impact on generics prescribing in long-term care

Generics/Research | Posted 17/01/2020

A recent observational study [1] in long-term care facilities in the US shows that the Medicare Part D programme has no significant effect on the rate of generic drug prescriptions, contrary to expectations.

American College of Physicians makes new recommendations to cut drug spending

Generics/Research | Posted 10/01/2020

A paper from the American College of Physicians (ACP) makes a number of policy recommendations to reduce costs of prescription drugs in the US, including annual caps for out-of-pocket spending and negotiating with manufacturers [1].

The impact of generics regulation in Brazil

Generics/Research | Posted 13/12/2019

Sales of originator drugs have decreased and the number of generics manufacturers have increased following the introduction of the Brazilian Generics Law, reports a new study [1].

FDA generics approvals increasing but not for at-risk generics

Generics/Research | Posted 29/11/2019

Analysis of generics approvals by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reveals a slight increase in the total number of applications approved between 2016 and 2018. Over 1,800 applications were approved in this time, however, there was no significant change to the proportion of these drugs in shortage or with limited competition [1].

Safety of generics in US questioned

Generics/Research | Posted 15/11/2019

US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations guarantee a safe drug supply. However, author Michael White, from the Health Outcomes, Policy, and Evidence Synthesis Group, University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy, Connecticut, USA, questions the safety of foreign generic drug imports [1].

Generics transition brings economic benefits to Canada

Generics/Research | Posted 08/11/2019

Economic analysis of genericization of cancer medicines in Canada has confirmed their cost-effectiveness. This rare example of an economic evaluation of the benefits of generics was published in Current Oncology [1].

A call for economic reassessment of drug regimens

Generics/Research | Posted 08/11/2019

Canadian researchers have called for the cost-effectiveness of drug products to be routinely reassessed. Their study, published in Current Oncology [1], has shown that cost-effectiveness of products alters significantly after generics are introduced. This has big implications for healthcare budgets and access to medicines, in Canada and worldwide.

Pharmacy chain drives choice among US generics manufacturers

Generics/Research | Posted 25/10/2019

A recent study shows that the dispensing pharmacy chain is a strong driver of generics manufacturer choice in the US, which could have implications for economic models of the generic drugmarket [1].

First pregabalin generics approved by FDA

Generics/Research | Posted 18/10/2019

In July 2019, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved multiple applications for the first generics of Lyrica (pregabalin) for the management of fibromyalgia, postherpetic neuralgia, neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy or spinal cord injury, and as adjunct therapy for partial-onset seizures in patients aged 17 years or over.

Strong generics nocebo effect found in US

Generics/Research | Posted 11/10/2019

In the US, generic drug products account for approximately 90% of all prescriptions dispensed [1]. Despite this, there is a continued lack of trust in these drug products. Generics are often perceived as less effective and less safe than their brand-name reference products. Now, researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School have confirmed that in the US, generics exhibit a strong nocebo effect. Here, negative bias against generics leads to negative clinical outcomes [2]. The researchers call for more education about generics to increase awareness of their benefits and increase access to these lower-priced medicines.