Content about Generics

May 2, 2013
More than 80% of mothers regularly experience pain, survey finds

The vast majority of mothers experience pain throughout their bodies, according to a new survey.

STERLING, Ill. — The vast majority of mothers experience pain throughout their bodies, according to a new survey.

The survey, commissioned by electric massager maker Wahl Clipper Corp. and conducted by Harris Interactive, found that 84% of mothers experience pain. This includes 80% who experience lower back pain, 76% with shoulder and neck pain, 70% with upper back pain and 65% with joint pain. The survey included 2,000 men and women, including 300 mothers with children younger than 18, who were asked about their pain and how they cope with it.

May 1, 2013
Prasco to distribute authorized generic treatment for tumor disorder

Prasco Labs has signed a deal with WellSpring Pharmaceutical Corp. to market an authorized generic version of a drug for a rare tumor disorder.

CINCINNATI — Prasco Labs has signed a deal with WellSpring Pharmaceutical Corp. to market an authorized generic version of a drug for a rare tumor disorder.

The company announced Wednesday the distribution and supply agreement for phenoxybenzamine hydrochloride capsules in the 10 mg strength for pheochromocytoma, an adrenal gland tumor disorder. The drug is used to control episodes of hypertension and sweating associated with the disorder.

May 1, 2013
Teva introduces generic bronchospasm drug

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has launched a generic inhaler used to treat bronchospasm, the company said.

NORTH WALES, Pa. — Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has launched a generic inhaler used to treat bronchospasm, the company said.

Teva announced the introduction of levalbuterol inhalation solution. The product is a generic version of Sunovion's Xopenex and is available in the 0.31 mg, 0.63 mg and 1.25 mg strengths.

Various versions of the drug had sales of $438.8 million in 2012, according to IMS Health.

April 30, 2013
Aurobindo receives FDA approval for hypertension, antibiotic drugs

The Food and Drug Administration has approved two generic drugs made by Aurobindo Pharma, the drug maker said.

HYDERABAD — The Food and Drug Administration has approved two generic drugs made by Aurobindo Pharma, the drug maker said.

The company announced Tuesday the approval of quinapril tablets in the 5-mg, 10-mg, 20-mg and 40-mg strengths. The drug is a generic version of Pfizer's Accupril and is used to treat high blood pressure. Various versions of the drug had sales of about $49 million during the 12-month period ending in September, according to IMS Health.

April 29, 2013
FDA appoints Mary Beth Clarke as director of Office of Executive Programs

A Food and Drug Administration staffer who has led implementation of the Generic Drug User Fee Act has been named to a new director position at the agency, the FDA said Monday.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — A Food and Drug Administration staffer who has led implementation of the Generic Drug User Fee Act has been named to a new director position at the agency, the FDA said Monday.

The FDA announced that it had appointed Mary Beth Clarke as permanent director of the Office of Executive Programs. Clarke had previously served as the OEP's executive director.

April 29, 2013
Reports: Valeant, Actavis deal put on hold

A proposal by Canadian drug maker Valeant Pharmaceuticals International to purchase generic drug maker Actavis has fallen through, according to published reports.

NEW YORK — A proposal by Canadian drug maker Valeant Pharmaceuticals International to purchase generic drug maker Actavis has fallen through, according to published reports.

According to reports, Valeant was planning to pay more than $13 billion in stock to acquire Actavis, but the deal was put on hold because the companies could not agree to terms of the deal. The deal would create a company worth about $35 billion.

April 26, 2013
Actavis can launch generic OxyContin in January 2014 under settlement with Purdue

Generic drug maker Actavis is settling a patent-infringement suit with Purdue Pharma concerning the opioid painkiller OxyContin, Actavis said, saying it expected to make more than $100 million in the deal between 2014 and 2015.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Generic drug maker Actavis is settling a patent-infringement suit with Purdue Pharma concerning the opioid painkiller OxyContin, Actavis said Friday, saying it expected to make more than $100 million in the deal between 2014 and 2015.

April 26, 2013
Mallinckrodt collects unused medications in St. Louis

Medical products manufacturer Covidien's pharmaceutical division is expanding an initiative to collect unused and unwanted medications.

ST. LOUIS — Medical products manufacturer Covidien's pharmaceutical division is expanding an initiative to collect unused and unwanted medications.

Mallinckrodt said it would expand communities' access to drug take-back collection boxes and promote safe disposal practices, installing lock boxes in three police stations around St. Louis. The company said it purchased the boxes under a collaboration with the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators and also would provide a grant to help incinerate the medications that are collected.

April 26, 2013
Obama administration hopes to tackle prescription drug abuse

More than 1.3 million emergency room visits in 2010 were related to abuse of prescription drugs, and the problem has become widespread enough that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classifies it as an epidemic. In response, curbing abuse of prescription drugs has become a cornerstone of the Obama administration's drug policy.

WASHINGTON — More than 1.3 million emergency room visits in 2010 were related to abuse of prescription drugs, and the problem has become widespread enough that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classifies it as an epidemic. In response, curbing abuse of prescription drugs has become a cornerstone of the Obama administration's drug policy.

April 25, 2013
Actavis to launch generic ADHD drug in December 2014

Actavis can launch a generic version of an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder drug made by Shire next year under an agreement between the two companies announced Thursday.

PARSAPPANY, N.J. — Actavis can launch a generic version of an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder drug made by Shire next year under an agreement between the two companies announced Thursday.

April 25, 2013
Greenstone launches authorized generic painkiller

Greenstone has launched an authorized generic painkiller, the company said.

PEAPACK, N.J. — Greenstone has launched an authorized generic painkiller, the company said.

Greenstone, the generics arm of Pfizer, announced the introduction of authorized generic oxaprozin caplets in the 600 mg strength. The drug is a version of Pfizer's Daypro, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or NSAID.

Authorized generics are branded drugs sold under their generic names at a reduced price.

 

April 25, 2013
Strengthening of drug supply chain's effects on independent pharmacies raises concerns

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health heard testimony on Thursday morning from representatives of the Food and Drug Administration and several industry trade groups following the introduction of draft legislation that sponsors said would strengthen the country's pharmaceutical supply chain.

WASHINGTON — The House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health heard testimony on Thursday morning from representatives of the Food and Drug Administration and several industry trade groups following the introduction of draft legislation that sponsors said would strengthen the country's pharmaceutical supply chain.

April 24, 2013
Hospira looks to U.S. as it marks European biosimilar milestone

Generic drug maker Hospira marked its fifth year marketing knock-off versions of biotech drugs in Europe Wednesday as it presented at the 2013 Biotechnology Industry Organization International Convention this week.

CHICAGO — Generic drug maker Hospira marked its fifth year marketing knock-off versions of biotech drugs in Europe Wednesday as it presented at the 2013 Biotechnology Industry Organization International Convention this week.

The drug maker said it delivered more than 5 million doses of biosimilar medicines to patients in Europe and Australia. The convention includes multiple sessions devoted to such topics as biosimilar regulatory approval, manufacturing and market formation, the company said.

April 24, 2013
Parents often complicit in teens' prescription drug abuse, study finds

A dramatic jump in the rates of misuse of prescription stimulants over the past four years is linked to lax attitudes on the part of parents, according to a new study, though misuse and abuse of prescription opioids has remained flat.

NEW YORK — A dramatic jump in the rates of misuse of prescription stimulants over the past four years is linked to lax attitudes on the part of parents, according to a new study, though misuse and abuse of prescription opioids has remained flat.

April 23, 2013
FDA approves second BD Rx generic injectable drug

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a second product in BD's new line of injectable drugs, the company said Tuesday.

FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a second product in BD's new line of injectable drugs, the company said Tuesday.

BD Rx, the pharmaceutical arm of the medical technology manufacturer, whose name stands for Becton, Dickinson and Co., received FDA approval for metoclopramide, part of its BD Simplist line of ready-to-administer pre-filled generic injectables. The product is an antiemetic, a drug used to stop vomiting.

April 23, 2013
Medication-related waste hits poorest states harder, ESI study finds

Unnecessary spending related to medications totaled nearly half a trillion dollars last year, and much of that was in the poorest states in the country, according to pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Unnecessary spending related to medications totaled nearly half a trillion dollars last year, and much of that was in the poorest states in the country, according to pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts.

ESI said the country wasted $418 billion on bad medication-related decisions, including $55.8 billion spent on higher-priced medications when cheaper alternatives were available; and $269.4 billion went to expenses related to poor medication adherence.

April 23, 2013
Sandoz VP leaves company

Sandoz U.S. Generics Operating Unit VP sales and marketing Rich Tremonte will leave the company.

PRINCETON, N.J. — Sandoz U.S. Generics Operating Unit VP sales and marketing Rich Tremonte will leave the company.

The company said Tremonte would be working for AmerisourceBergen Corp. as VP global generic pharmaceuticals starting on June 1.

 

April 19, 2013
FDA grants tentative approval to two Sun generics

The Food and Drug Administration has given tentative approval to two generic diabetes drugs made by Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, the Indian drug maker said.

MUMBAI, India — The Food and Drug Administration has given tentative approval to two generic diabetes drugs made by Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, the Indian drug maker said.

Sun announced the tentative approvals for sitagliptin tablets in the 25 mg, 50 mg and 100 mg strengths and metformin hydrochloride extended-release tablets in the 500 mg and 1,000 mg strengths. The drugs are respectively generic versions of Merck's Januvia and Santarus' Glumetza.

April 19, 2013
GPhA welcomes Bipartisan Policy Center proposal to save billions through increased use of generics

A report released yesterday by the Bipartisan Policy Center, entitled “A Bipartisan Rx for Patient-Centered Care and System-Wide Cost Containment,” contains a smart, forward-looking and no-cost recommendation that could save the government billions, the Generic Pharmaceutical Association said.

WASHINGTON — A report released yesterday by the Bipartisan Policy Center, entitled “A Bipartisan Rx for Patient-Centered Care and System-Wide Cost Containment,” contains a smart, forward-looking and no-cost recommendation that could save the government billions, the Generic Pharmaceutical Association said today.

April 18, 2013
Actavis relaunches generic contraceptive

A federal court ruling has allowed Actavis to relaunch a generic contraceptive drug, the company said.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — A federal court ruling has allowed Actavis to relaunch a generic contraceptive drug, the company said.

April 18, 2013
Hospira announces new executive appointment

Generic drug maker Hospira has appointed Matt Stober as its SVP operations, the company said.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Generic drug maker Hospira has appointed Matt Stober as its SVP operations, the company said.

Stober, who began working for Hospira in 2011 as corporate VP U.S. pharmacy operations, will have expanded leadership over all the company's drug manufacturing, as well as manufacturing science and technology, engineering, competitive strategy, health and safety, supply chain and procurement. Stober succeeds John Elliot, who has led operations since April 2012 and will provide continuity of support until he retires at the end of the year.

April 18, 2013
Nearly one-third of women don't fill new osteoporosis prescriptions, study finds

A new study by Kaiser Permanente finds that a large percentage of women with osteoporosis fail to pick up new prescriptions for the condition.

PASADENA, Calif. — A new study by Kaiser Permanente finds that a large percentage of women with osteoporosis fail to pick up new prescriptions for the condition.

April 17, 2013
Sandoz launches generic cardiovascular disease drug

Generic drug maker Sandoz has launched a generic version of a drug used to treat high blood pressure and angina.

PRINCETON, N.J. — Generic drug maker Sandoz has launched a generic version of a drug used to treat high blood pressure and angina.

The company, a subsidiary of Swiss drug maker Novartis, announced the launch of diltiazem hydrochloride extended-release capsules, a generic version of Forest Labs' Tiazac. Sandoz is launching the drug in the 120-mg, 180-mg, 240-mg, 300-mg, 360-mg and 420-mg strengths.

Various versions of the drug had sales of about $174 million in 2012, according to IMS Health.

 

April 16, 2013
Authorities worry about abuse potential as OxyContin patent expires

Purdue Pharma's patent for OxyContin expired Tuesday, opening up the opioid painkiller to generic competition, but authorities have raised concerns about what they call the potential for generic versions to be abused.

NEW YORK — Purdue Pharma's patent for OxyContin expired Tuesday, opening up the opioid painkiller to generic competition, but authorities have raised concerns about what they call the potential for generic versions to be abused.

April 16, 2013
FDA approves new labeling for OxyContin

The Food and Drug Administration will not approve generic versions of Purdue Pharma's painkiller OxyContin based on earlier versions of the drug that did not include features to thwart abuse, the agency said.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration will not approve generic versions of Purdue Pharma's painkiller OxyContin based on earlier versions of the drug that did not include features to thwart abuse, the agency said Tuesday.

The FDA announced that it approved updated labeling for reformulated OxyContin (oxycodone) extended-release tablets indicating that it has physical and chemical properties designed to deter drug abusers from crushing or dissolving the pills in order to inject or snort them.