Patents

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).…

World’s poorest countries don’t need to protect drug patents until 2033, agrees WTO

The world’s poorest countries have been given an extension of 17 years to a waiver exempting them from implementing rules protecting drug patents and undisclosed clinical test data, the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreed on 6 November 2015.…

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.…

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).…

Free trade agreements play a dangerous game with public health

Public health could be sacrificed in large trade pacts that are discussed in secrecy.…

Pfizer apologises for Lyrica but presses ahead with patent protection strategy

Pfizer has apologised to pharmacists and GPs over any extra work or confusion caused by its attempts to protect the second medical use patent of its product Lyrica.…

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.…