Generics
Five Chinese companies join UN’s MPP for Covid-19 medicines
Five pharmaceutical companies in China have signed up to the United Nation’s (UN) Medicine Patent Pool (MPP) which will allow them to produce generic versions of Pfizer's oral COVID-19 treatment, Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir), for distribution in 95 low- and middle-income countries, approximately 53 per cent of the world's population.
High drug bills? Turn to your pharmacist for help
Many Americans require prescription drugs on a daily basis. With year-on-year price increases of branded products, turning to pharmacists for advice could reduce the financial strain on households [1, 2].
South Korean companies to make generic Bridion and COVID-19 drugs
In South Korea, 19 pharmaceutical companies have obtained marketing approval for generic drugs of MSD’s Bridion (sugammadex). In addition, Korean pharma companies Celltrion, Dongbang and Hanmi Pharmaceutical, will be supplying generic COVID-19 drugs to middle- and low-income countries.
Revlimid (lenalidomide) generics launch across Europe
In late February 2022, a number of generics of Revlimid (lenalidomide) were launched in Europe. These will now rival Bristol Meyers Squibb’s blockbuster oncology medicine.
FDA Office of Generic Drugs publishes 2021 annual report
The US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Office of Generic Drugs annual report reveals the importance of innovation and scientific collaboration in advancing the generic drug programme in 2021.
Cancer and diabetes generic treatments receive positive opinion from EMA’s CHMP
The European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) announced on 28 January 2022 that three generic medicines had received a positive opinion from the committee.
COVID-19 vaccine produced in Latin America
The World Health Organization (WHO) approved a COVID-19 vaccine produced in Latin America at the end of 2021. It is a version of the immunizing agent from the Anglo-Swedish laboratory AstraZeneca, manufactured jointly by Argentina and Mexico.
Generic etoricoxib is equivalent to the reference drug
A study comparing generic etoricoxib (ETO) to the originator drug Arcoxia [1] finds that the generic version of the drug is bioequivalent to the reference compound, according to the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) bioequivalence guidelines.
FDA approves first Restasis generic
On 2 February 2022, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first generic of Restasis (cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion).
FDA approves schizophrenia and anti-allergy drugs
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted tentative approvals to Zydus Cadila and Morepen Laboratories for treatments for schizophrenia and allergy symptoms, respectively.
