Generics/Research
Attitudes and beliefs are powerful influences on generics use
While generic drugs have the potential to provide significant savings in healthcare costs, and numerous financial incentives are in place, the generics substitution rate in Switzerland was, until recently, lower than expected. A report by Decollogny et al. shows that attitudes and beliefs among patients and physicians have a powerful influence on prescribing practice, suggesting that educational campaigns could potentially provide a significant boost to generics use [1].
Efficacy and tolerability of generic and brand-name atorvastatin
A generic formulation of atorvastatin was developed in Korea and approved by Korea Food and Drug Administration on 1 July 2008. This clinical trial was conducted at ten clinical centres in Korea between September 2008 and May 2010 for the purposes of marketing the generic formulation [1].
Increased use of generic statins proves cost effective in Australia
A recent study concluded that closing the statin ‘treatment gap’ using generics was cost-effective in the secondary prevention of coronary artery disease (CAD) in Australia [1].
Can generic competition succeed at reducing cost of atorvastatin?
The generic form of the cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor (atorvastatin) has the potential for significant cost savings for payers following its introduction in November 2011. However, ‘aggressive business tactics’ by Pfizer may stifle generics competition and so prevent prices from falling as much as predicted.
Comparison of brand-name and biosimilar etanercept in Korea
A study comparing pharmacokinetics and tolerability of branded etanercept (25 mg) and its biosimilar (25 mg) in Korea reported by Gu et al has shown that the reference drug and the test biosimilar met the standard criteria for assuming bioequivalence as defined by Korean regulatory authorities [1].
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].
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].
Attitudes towards prescribing generics in Malaysia
A recent study carried out in Malaysia has shown that pharmacists in the country have a lack of confidence in generic medicines produced by local pharmaceutical companies [1].
Brand-name atorvastatin cheaper than generics
Despite generics of Pfizer’s blockbuster cholesterol-reducing drug Lipitor (atorvastatin) being available in the US since the patent expired in November 2011, many patients are still receiving the brand-name drug [1].
Cost savings due to prescribing of generic PPIs and statins in Scotland
Significant cost savings can be made by governments by encouraging prescribing of generics rather than brand-name drugs. In Scotland, in an effort to control medicines expenditure, measures were introduced in 2000 to encourage the prescribing of generic proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and statins [1].
