Pharma News
Drugmakers accused of stopping shipments to Greece
Greece is facing a severe drug shortage in more than 200 drugs. The worrying situation is being blamed on drugmakers that have stopped shipping their products to the country due to debts or fear of parallel trade.
Drug shortages linked to quality control costs
Lack of reward for manufacturing quality is forcing manufacturers of sterile injectable generics to reduce investments into quality system and is leading to drug shortages, according to FDA officials [1].
Sun Pharma ends attempt to gain full control of Taro
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (Sun Pharma) announced on 8 February 2013 that it had given up on its effort to buy the remaining stock of Taro Pharmaceutical Industries (Taro) for about US$685 million after Taro shareholders held out for a higher price.
EC accuses J&J and Novartis of delaying generic fentanyl
On 31 January 2013 the European Commission (EC) sent a statement of objections, to US-based Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and Switzerland-based Novartis accusing them of delayed entry of a generic painkiller.
Generic Doxil approval may help alleviate drug shortages
FDA announced on 4 February 2013 that the agency had approved the first generic version of the cancer drug Doxil (doxorubicin hydrochloride liposome injection).
Top 10 most read GaBI Online articles in 2012
2012 was a busy year with lots of developments in biosimilars from regulatory guidelines to comparability issues. Biosimilars remain as the hot topic of the year for GaBI Online.
Brand-name drugmaker can be sued for harm caused by generic drug
On 4 January 2013 the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that Pfizer can be sued for failing to warn about a drug’s risks by a patient who claimed he was injured by a generic version of its gastric reflux medicine Reglan (metoclopramide).
Teva makes South Korean joint venture agreement
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (Teva) announced on 16 December 2012 that it had made an agreement with Handok Pharmaceuticals (Handok) to establish a business venture in South Korea.
Teva cost-cutting and re-organization
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries’ (Teva’s) new Chief Executive vowed to reshape the drugmaker and reduce annual costs by up to US$2 billion over the next five years, making it into ‘the most indispensable medicines company in the world’.
Eli Lilly and Strides Arcolab in generics deal
Pharma giant Eli Lilly and India-based generics manufacturer Strides Arcolab announced on 5 December 2012 a collaboration to market the latter’s generic cancer drugs in emerging markets.
