Generic medicines

Pfizer’s Lyrica GP reimbursement plan under scrutiny by industry self-regulator

Pfizer’s plan to reimburse GPs for extra work they undertake to protect the second medical use patent of the company’s drug Lyrica (pregablin) is under consideration by the UK pharmaceutical industry’s self-regulator. …

Pfizer to reimburse GPs for extra workload caused by Lyrica

Pharmaceutical company Pfizer is reimbursing GPs for any extra workload they experience to protect the second medical use patent of its drug Lyrica (pregabalin).…

UK competition body accuses drug firms of excessive pricing of phenytoin capsules

Pfizer and Flynn Pharma have been accused of charging “excessive and unfair” prices in the UK for phenytoin sodium capsules, according to a provisional view by the Competition and Markets Authority.…

Clinical Pharmacist’s monthly news round-up: the top 10 in the past month

What has been happening in the world of pharmacy? Here’s our pick of must-read news from the past month.…

New HIV infections fall as UN aims to end epidemic by 2030

The world has achieved and exceeded the millennium development goal set by the United Nations in 2000 to halt and reverse the spread of HIV by 2015, says a new report.…

Repositioning existing drugs for cancer treatment

Scientists are using systematic approaches to identify non-oncology drugs that can be used to treat cancer, but access to drugs and commercial challenges are hindering progress.…

Don’t overlook opportunities to repurpose existing drugs

More needs to be done to incentivise research into new indications for existing medicines.…

GPs call for legislation to end patent protection for specific drugs

While patent protection is important for stimulating drug development, a second medical use patent for pregabalin has caused “considerable” work for pharmacies.…

Indian government stands up to EMA over licence suspensions

The Indian government has come to the defence of GVK Biosciences, the company at the centre of allegations of flawed data used to support the licensing of generic drugs.…

US consumers prefer generic over branded drugs

Over 80% of US consumers say they would purchase generic drugs more often than brand name drugs and 42% said they would “always” choose a generic.…