Generics
Amgen buys Turkish generics manufacturer
US biotechnology giant Amgen announced on 25 April 2012 that the company will pay US$700 million to gain a majority share (95.6%) in Turkish generics company Mustafa Nevzat Pharmaceuticals (MN).
Watson now third largest generics company with Actavis acquisition
Watson Pharmaceuticals (Watson) has confirmed a definitive agreement to acquire privately-owned generics firm Actavis for an upfront payment of Euros 4.25 billion. The acquisition of Actavis makes Watson the third largest generics company in the world, with US$8 billion in combined revenue expected during 2012.
US Supreme Court rules against generics delaying tactics
On 17 April 2012, the US Supreme Court ruled in favour of India-based generics company Sun Pharma in its case against Danish pharmaceutical company, Novo Nordisk, a case that could have provided a route for brand-name drug companies to delay generics competition.
FDA approves generic vancomycin capsules
On 11 April 2012 India-based Strides Arcolab (Strides) announced that it had received FDA approval for its generic version of Baxter’s antibiotic Vancocin (vancomycin).
Cheap generic drug stops fatal bleeding but gets little use
According to a systematic review of data, use of a cheap generic drug could potentially save many trauma patients every year [1].
Also noted on generics: 13 April 2012
Patents on Taxotere invalid
On 9 April 2012, two patents for sanofi-aventis’ cancer drug Taxotere (docetaxel) were ruled invalid and unenforceable by a US court, coming as good news for generics manufacturers Apotex and Hospira.
Taxotere (docetaxel) is a chemotherapy drug usually given to treat breast cancer, prostate cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. The drug, which is a follow-on from Taxol (paclitaxel), still generated Euros 922 million during 2011 for sanofi-aventis, despite a 57% reduction since the start of generic drug competition in 2010.
Source: Bloomberg
Generic quetiapine launched but the fight goes on
The news of AstraZeneca’s failed attempts to delay generic competition for its blockbuster antipsychotic drug Seroquel (quetiapine fumarate) has caused a gold rush among generic companies, who are falling over each other to launch their generic versions.
FDA approves first generics to treat high blood pressure and kidney disease
On 2 April 2012, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (Teva) announced that it had launched generic versions of sanofi-aventis’ high blood pressure treatments Avapro (irbesartan) and Avalide (irbesartan and hydrochlorothiazide) in the US.
Patients do not talk about generics with doctors
One of the main financial concerns expressed by adults in the US is the cost of medications and medical bills, however, despite this fact, very few patients talk about the price of prescription medicines with their physicians, according to Consumer Reports' monthly nationally representative survey [1].
Bill introduced to ensure generics get 180-day exclusivity
Congressman Frank Pallone and Congressman Brett Guthrie introduced a new bill to the US Senate on 29 March 2012 to amend the US Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act in order to ensure that generics manufacturers get their 180-day exclusivity.
