Generic medicines

Imported generics as effective as branded antivirals for hepatitis C

Hepatitis C infection was undetectable in 98% of patients after treatment with generic antivirals.…

No difference in efficacy between generic antiepileptic drugs

Switching between generic antiepileptic drugs does not lead to significant changes in seizure frequency or adverse events, study finds.…

GSK fined £37.6m for ‘pay-for-delay’ paroxetine deals

GlaxoSmithKline has been fined £37.6m for entering into deals that delayed the entry of generic versions of its ‘blockbuster’ antidepressant Seroxat (paroxetine) into the UK market.…

Pharmaceutical industry calls on governments to help tackle antimicrobial resistance

Pharmaceutical companies from across the world have called on governments to work with industry to develop new antibiotics and preserve the effectiveness of existing ones.…

Review of 2015: ten developments that are changing pharmacy

The pharmacy landscape continues to shift amid a backdrop of austere UK public spending and the rising spectre of centralised dispensing in the community. The Pharmaceutical Journal presents ten developments that affected pharmacists in 2015.…

Pfizer gains UK interim injunction against Sandoz and LloydsPharmacy over Lyrica

Warner-Lambert – a subsidiary of Pfizer – has been awarded an UK interim injunction preventing Sandoz from selling or supplying a generic version of Lyrica (pregabalin).…

Branded and generic medicines

6 October 2015: the Daily Mail featured an article looking at branded and generic medicines. Speaking to the newspaper, Royal Pharmaceutical Society chief scientist Jayne Lawrence explained that “branded products cost more because companies have to recover enormous costs associated with d…

Pharmacists should continue to follow Lyrica guidance, says PSNC

Pharmacists should continue to refer generic prescriptions for pregabalin back to the prescriber if they know it has been written for neuropathic pain, says the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee. …

Pfizer loses Lyrica patent infringement case

Pfizer has lost its patent infringement case against generic drug manufacturers Actavis and Mylan over the use of pregabalin, marketed as Lyrica.…

Price increase after ‘debranding’ of branded products

I write in response to the news item ‘UK competition body accuses drug firms of excessive pricing of phenytoin capsules’ ( The Pharmaceutical Journal 2015;295:136) and Mark Burdon’s letter regarding ‘Debranding of branded products’ ( …