Generic Drug News and Research

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Generic Drugs are official nonbrand names by which medicines are known. Generic names usually refer to the chemical name of the drug.

Barr confirms Entocort patent challenge

Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today confirmed that its subsidiary, Barr Laboratories, Inc., has initiated a challenge of the patents listed by AstraZeneca LP in connection with its Entocort(R) Enteric Coated Capsules (budesonide), 3mg.

27 May 2008

Breakthrough by WHO will give poor countries better access to drugs

An agreement has been reached by world health leaders regarding approaches to drug research and development and improving access to medicines.

27 May 2008

Report cites 15 New York State HMOs for setting consumer restrictions on prescription drugs to boost profits

Some HMOs in New York state are restricting patients' access to so-called single-source drugs, brand-name medications for specific ailments that do not have lower-cost generic versions, according to a report released on Sunday, the New York Daily News reports.

20 May 2008

Industry group letter indicates qualified aupport for bill to allow approval of generic biotechnology medications

The Biotechnology Industry Organization has issued a letter to Reps. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) and Joe Barton (R-Texas) to indicate qualified support for a bill (HR 5629) that they have introduced to allow FDA to approve generic biotech medications, CQ HealthBeat reports (McCarthy, CQ HealthBeat, 5/16).

19 May 2008

National Community Pharmacists Association to launch ad campaign to lobby lawmakers for policy changes

The National Community Pharmacists Association this week plans to launch a new advertising campaign that asks lawmakers to address two policies that the group maintains has or will result in closures of community pharmacies, CongressDaily reports. As part of the launch of the campaign, about 500 community pharmacists and independent pharmacy owners will visit Washington, D.C.

19 May 2008

Taiwan approves WTO amendment allowing countries to export lower-cost versions of antiretrovirals, other drugs to developing countries

Taiwan's legislative body the Yuan on Thursday approved the first reading of a proposed World Trade Organization amendment that would allow pharmaceutical companies to make lower-cost versions of generic antiretroviral drugs, as well as drugs for malaria and other diseases, to sell to developing countries, the CNA/Taipei Times reports.

19 May 2008

American Medical Association officials outline provisions physicians would accept in electronic prescribing legislation

The American Medical Association on Friday discussed a set of standards that physicians would accept for any electronic prescribing requirement under Medicare, CongressDaily reports.

13 May 2008

Canadian drug company awarded Rwandan contract to provide combination antiretroviral

Rwanda recently accepted a bid from the Toronto-based generic drug company Apotex to supply its fixed-dose combination antiretroviral drug Apo-triAvir to the country, the Toronto Star reports (Toronto Star, 5/9).

13 May 2008

Access to generic HIV/AIDS drugs increasing following Thailand's decision to issue compulsory licenses, health official Says

Access to some antiretroviral drugs is increasing in Thailand because of the country's decision to issue compulsory licenses for certain medications, Winai Sawasdiworn, deputy secretary-general of the National Health Security Office, said recently, the Bangkok Post reports (Apiradee, Bangkok Post, 5/8).

11 May 2008

Barr announces approval of generic version of Yasmin (drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol)

Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has announced that its subsidiary, Barr Laboratories, Inc., has received final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) to manufacture and market a generic version of Yasmin (drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol), an oral contraceptive product manufactured and marketed by Bayer Schering Pharma, AG.

9 May 2008

FDA approves first generic versions of Requip (ropinirole hydrochloride)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first generic versions of Requip (ropinirole hydrochloride) tablets for the treatment of moderate to severe Restless Legs Syndrome.

9 May 2008

Hearing to focus on direct-to-consumer ads for prescription drugs

Officials for Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Merck and Schering-Plough on Thursday will testify at a House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing that Democrats hope will "lay the groundwork for future legislation to tighten controls on drug marketing," the Wall Street Journal reports.

8 May 2008

Apotex receives final tender approval from Rwanda for vital AIDS drug

Apotex Inc., Canada's largest generic pharmaceutical company has successfully bid and been awarded a tender from the Rwandan Government for the life saving triple combination AIDS drug "Apo Triavir". Apotex is the first company to provide this medicine to Africa under the provisions of the Canadian Access to Medicines Regime (CAMR).

7 May 2008

Wal-Mart generic drug program to begin offering 90-day supplies of more than 350 medications for $10 each

Wal-Mart officials on Monday announced the company will expand its discount program for generic drugs to offer three-month supplies for $10, the AP/Google.com reports (Harris, AP/Google.com, 5/5).

6 May 2008

Biosimilar protein cooperation

A biosimilar protein that can be used to treat neutropenia (a side effect of cancer chemotherapy) is to be developed by Apotex Inc. of Canada in collaboration with Intas Biopharmaceuticals Limited (IBPL).

6 May 2008

Forty-one percent of registered nurses find generics are less effective than name brand drugs say American Society of Registered Nurses

In a national online survey conducted by the American Society of Registered Nurses, 41% of the 781 Registered Nurses surveyed on April 28 reported that generic drugs are less effective than their equivalent brand-name counterparts.

5 May 2008

McCain promotes health care proposal at Miami Children's Hospital

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) on Monday at the Miami Children's Hospital promoted his health care proposal, which he said would "put families in charge," USA Today reports (Jackson, USA Today, 4/29).

29 Apr 2008

Clinton Foundation, UNITAID announce new antiretroviral discounts

The Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative and UNITAID on Monday announced that they have negotiated agreements with generic drug companies that will reduce the cost of some antiretroviral drugs and provide new pediatric formulations, the Wall Street Journal reports.

29 Apr 2008

Wall Street Journal examines Presidential candidate proposals to address health care costs

Presidential candidates Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.) each have announced proposals that seek to reduce health care costs, but "it is unclear how many of the candidates' ideas could actually make a dent in the rising cost of care," the Wall Street Journal reports

28 Apr 2008

Fosamax use linked to atrial fibrillation in women

Women who have used Fosamax are nearly twice as likely to develop the most common kind of chronically irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation) than are those who have never used it, according to research from Group Health and the University of Washington published in the April 28 Archives of Internal Medicine.

28 Apr 2008

Generic Drug News and Research

Further Reading

Barr confirms Entocort patent challenge

Breakthrough by WHO will give poor countries better access to drugs

Report cites 15 New York State HMOs for setting consumer restrictions on prescription drugs to boost profits

Industry group letter indicates qualified aupport for bill to allow approval of generic biotechnology medications

National Community Pharmacists Association to launch ad campaign to lobby lawmakers for policy changes

Taiwan approves WTO amendment allowing countries to export lower-cost versions of antiretrovirals, other drugs to developing countries

American Medical Association officials outline provisions physicians would accept in electronic prescribing legislation

Canadian drug company awarded Rwandan contract to provide combination antiretroviral

Access to generic HIV/AIDS drugs increasing following Thailand's decision to issue compulsory licenses, health official Says

Barr announces approval of generic version of Yasmin (drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol)

FDA approves first generic versions of Requip (ropinirole hydrochloride)

Hearing to focus on direct-to-consumer ads for prescription drugs

Apotex receives final tender approval from Rwanda for vital AIDS drug

Wal-Mart generic drug program to begin offering 90-day supplies of more than 350 medications for $10 each

Biosimilar protein cooperation

Forty-one percent of registered nurses find generics are less effective than name brand drugs say American Society of Registered Nurses

McCain promotes health care proposal at Miami Children's Hospital

Clinton Foundation, UNITAID announce new antiretroviral discounts

Wall Street Journal examines Presidential candidate proposals to address health care costs

Fosamax use linked to atrial fibrillation in women

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