Content about Generic drug

LONDON — The global market for generic drugs will reach more than $125 billion next year, according to a new report by a British market-research firm.

HYDERABAD, India — Dr. Reddy's Labs has appointed a new CFO and head of its North America business, the generic drug maker said.

Dr. Reddy's said Umang Vohra will take over the role of EVP and head of generics for North America, starting in January 2013. Vohra has been CFO of Dr. Reddy's for the past four years.

Saumen Chakraborty will take over as CFO of Dr. Reddy's following Vohra's reappointment. Chakraborty is currently president and global head of quality, human resources, information technology and business process excellence.

BALTIMORE — Lupin Pharmaceuticals has launched a generic drug for cholesterol disorders, the company said.

Lupin announced the launch of fenofibrate tablets in the 48-mg and 145-mg strengths. The drug is used to treat hypercholesterolemia or mixed dyslipidemia and severe hypertriglyceridemia.

The drug is a generic version of Abbott's Tricor, which had sales of $1.26 billion during the 12-month period ended in June, according to IMS Health.

In the classic Arabian Nights tale “Aladdin and the Magic Lamp,” the sorcerer who sold Aladdin the lamp containing the genie attempts to get it back by walking through the town where Aladdin and his wife live disguised as a merchant, trading “new lamps 
for old.” 


Rubbing pill bottles isn’t likely to bring forth any genies ready to grant three wishes, but the idea of inputting something old and outputting something shiny and new is sort of the gist behind 
branded generics.


Perhaps the iconic scene at the end of Ridley Scott’s 1991 movie “Thelma & Louise” — with Gina Davis’ and Susan Sarandon’s characters hurdling into the Grand Canyon in a green convertible — is a good metaphor for what’s happening in the generic drug industry these days.


NEW YORK — The American Medical Association has come out in favor of legislation to stop deals between branded and generic drug makers that critics blame for delaying entry of generics into the market, according to published reports.

Forbes reported that the AMA would support federal legislation to ban so-called "pay-for-delay" settlements. The AMA joins the Federal Trade Commission, which has strongly criticized the settlements

Earlier this week, DSN reported that members of a prescription drug program offered by Humana to Medicare beneficiaries will soon be able to obtain 10 generic hypertension drugs from Walmart for a penny.

It's certainly good news for people with high blood pressure, but it also has big implications for the pharmacy retail industry.

FDA approves cardiovascular drug

MORRISTOWN, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic drug for treating blood pressure and chest pain. Actavis announced the approval of diltiazem hydrochloride extended-release capsules.
The drug is a generic version of Valeant’s Tiazac. The branded drug and its generic equivalents had sales of about $76.3 million in 2011, according to IMS Health.



NEW YORK – Some generic drugs may come under more scrutiny from the Food and Drug Administration amid reports that the generic version of a treatment for depression didn't work as well as the branded version, according to published reports.

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic drug for leukemia made by a subsidiary of Par Pharmaceutical Cos.

Par said Thursday that the FDA had approved Anchen Pharmaceuticals' tretinoin capsules in the 10-mg strength.

The drug is a generic version of Roche's Vesanoid, various versions of which have annual sales of about $29 million, according to IMS Health.

NEW YORK — The Food and Drug Administration is expected to decide at the end of this week whether to approve a new oral drug for pulmonary arterial hypertension made by United Therapeutics.

 SAN DIEGO — The number of independents still is down from 2000, and margins of 2.9% represent the lowest in five years. However community pharmacists have proven resilient and helped reduce healthcare costs by dispensing a record high number of lower-cost generic drugs in 2011 and reported more frequent interaction with physicians to promote the appropriate use of generics, according to the 2012 NCPA Digest, sponsored by Cardinal Health.