Generics

Despite the fact that many analysts see Medicare Part D as the biggest thing to happen to the pharmaceutical industry in years, pharma companies have been reluctant to talk about how much they stand to gain. Some even argue that in the end the benefit will end up hurting manufacturers more than it helps as customers move over to low-cost generics. Not many people buy that argument. Some analysts think the winners are likely to be companies like Sanofi-Aventis, Roche, Johnson & Johnson …

In another noteworthy development, Deutsche Bank analyst Barbara Ryan said that Express Scripts is removing Pfizer drugs from its preferred formulary. The pharmacy benefits manager refused to comment on the development, but the signs suggest the report is credible. According to the report authored by Ryan, Express Scripts will give preference to generics over four drugs made by Pfizer, including the cholesterol drug Lipitor, blood pressure medicine Norvasc, ED treatment Viagra and …

A federal commission delivered its suggestions for trimming spending on Medicaid by as much as $10 billion this year to HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt on Thursday. Proposals include tighter limits on asset transfers by nursing home and long-term care patients and a suggestion that the program could save billions by allowing states to increase co-pays charged to Medicaid recipients. Under the current system, copays are capped by law at $3. The panel recommended steering patients toward …

A new study commissioned by Consumers Union finds that recent changes in the prescription painkiller market have meant a climb in prices for most painkillers. The research looks at pricing trends in the period since last September, when Merck was forced to withdraw the Cox-2 painkiller Vioxx from the market. Prices have risen on average 15 percent for drugs remaining on the market, according to a survey of data provided by NDCIHealth. Consumers Union found prices for Johnson & …

In what is probably a historic first, Generic drug maker Able Laboratories said it is recalling all of the generic drugs it manufacturers following last week's news that the company had halted shipments due to production problems. CEO Dhananjay G. Wadekar resigned last week and has been temporarily replaced by president Robert J. Mauro. Able markets more than 40 different generics and recorded $130 million in sales last year. The company's stock has fallen from $30 per share to …

Millions of dollars worth of prescription drugs go unused every year. Federal regulators strongly discourage their redistribution. But what if those wasted drugs could somehow be safely returned to the market? Both consumers and employers could stand to save a bundle. Currently, only Nebraska allows consumers to recycle their prescriptions, and then only if they are still in unbroken tamper-proof packaging. A number of proposals seek to promote recycling plans.

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