Generics
Pfizer delays generic celecoxib entry in US
Pharma giant Pfizer announced on 5 March 2013 that the US Patent Office had given the company an extra 18 months of exclusivity for its blockbuster anti-inflammatory painkiller Celebrex (celecoxib).
FDA approves generic opiate-dependency drugs
On 22 February 2013, FDA approved two generic versions of the drug Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone), a treatment for recovering heroin addicts.
Ranbaxy restarts generic atorvastatin production
India-based generics giant Ranbaxy Laboratories (Ranbaxy) announced on 25 February 2013 that it has restarted production of its generic cholesterol lowering drug atorvastatin after solving contamination problems.
Pfizer asks US Court to reconsider generic Reglan ruling
Pfizer has asked the US Supreme Court of Alabama to reconsider its decision of 4 January 2013, which would allow generics patients to sue brand-name drugmakers.
Generics policies in Europe have room for improvement
In Europe, generics policies have not yet been implemented to their full extent, according to authors Vogler and Zimmerman, reporting on the 2011 Pharmaceutical Pricing and Reimbursement Information (PPRI) Conference [1, 2].
Conflict-of-interest policies reduce brand-name prescribing
Psychiatrists who are exposed to conflict-of-interest (COI) policies during their residency are less likely to prescribe brand-name antidepressants after graduation than those who train in residency programmes without such policies, according to a new study by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, USA [1].
Watson buys women’s health company Uteron
Generics giant Watson Pharmaceuticals, now known as Actavis, announced on 23 January 2013 that it has completed the acquisition of Belgium-based Uteron Pharma for US$150 million in cash up front, and up to US$155 million in potential future milestone payments.
Watson becomes Actavis
Watson Pharmaceuticals announced on 24 January 2013 that the company had officially adopted Actavis as its new global name under which it will now trade on the New York Stock Exchange.
HIV generics could significantly cut treatment costs
The US Government could save almost US$1 billion in the first year alone by using generic rather than brand-name drugs for the treatment of HIV patients, according to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine [1].
First generic versions of Duetact and Maxalt approved
First-to-file generics from Mylan and Sandoz have been approved by FDA for rizatriptan benzoate and pioglitazone hydrochloride/glimepiride tablets, respectively.
