Generics
Doctors’ perceptions of generics in Guadeloupe and Martinique
Doctors in Guadeloupe and Martinique are not hostile towards generics but still mostly prescribe brand-name drugs due to patient preferences, according to a study analysing the perceptions of doctors towards generics in the French speaking territories [1].
Aurobindo and Lannett expand their generics portfolios
Both Indian generics maker Aurobindo Pharma (Aurobindo) and US generics company Lannett have announced efforts to increase their generics portfolios.
Generics market failures and non-profit manufacturing
Competition usually keeps the price of generics well below that of brand-name drugs. However, when there is little or no competition, generics makers can substantially increase prices, which may lead to drug shortages. One way to address such market failures could be to introduce a non-profit generics maker to the market, according to researchers from Intermountain Healthcare, the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health [1].
FDA to boost generics and change drug rebates to lower prices
In two recent speeches US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb has outlined plans to fight back against high drug prices. Two of the ways the agency plans to do this include increasing generics and targeting drug rebates
Antitrust activities in the pharmaceutical industry
High prices of prescription drugs have been highlighted as reducing access to essential drugs and have recently gained notoriety and political attention. Authors from Harvard Medical School and the law schools of the Northeastern and Rutgers Universities explain the role of antitrust law in restoring competition and restraining price increases [1].
China to exempt cancer drugs from import taxes
Under a new policy that took effect on 1 May 2018, China will exempt as many as 28 medicines, including all cancer drugs, made overseas from import duties.
Encouraging generics could cause high prices
A provision introduced in October 2017 awards eligible drugmakers 180 days of exclusivity to market a generic version of one of a list of 267 medicines for which no generic version currently exists. The provision was introduced to encourage generics of off-patent drugs without generics, however, some believe it could lead to high prices [1].
Price of leukaemia drug in Japan halved
Japanese drugmaker Ohara Pharmaceutical has reduced the price of its leukaemia generic imatinib to about half the price of the generics sold by its competitors to encourage leukaemia patients to use more affordable medication.
Hikma launches HIV generic ritonavir in the US
Jordan-based drugmaker Hikma Pharmaceuticals (Hikma) announced on 20 March 2018 that its wholly owned US subsidiary West-Ward Pharmaceuticals Corp had launched generic ritonavir tablets (100 mg) in the US.
EMA collaboration on oversight of API makers
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced on 12 April 2018 that it had published the International API inspection programme report for 2011−2016.
