Generic Drugs

Two years ago, the US Food and Drug Administration's Office of Generic Drugs (OGD) developed and implemented a program to test question-based reviews for abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs). OGD is reviewing the benefits and challenges faced by pharmaceutical firms involved in the initiative to see what changes need to be made going forward.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) last week issued an interim report that examined the effects of authorized generics on competition in the prescription drug market.

The Question-Based Review (QbR) initiative of the Office of Generic Drugs has reached its second full year in 2009. Special from the Journal of Validation Technology.

Follow-on biologics or biosimilars offer a niche growth market for the pharmaceutical industry. As the process for establishing a regulatory pathway for biosimilars is debated, companies, including Big Pharma, are positioning themselves to gain this piece of the pharmaceutical pie.

Also, Hospira to reduce workforce; WuXi AppTech makes senior appointments; more...

A bipartisan bill that would establish a regulatory pathway for the approval of biosimilars was introduced into the US House of Representatives last week.

The US Food and Drug Administration withdrew this week its direct final rule on Reporting Information About Authorized Generic Drugs.

The Federal Trade Commission has filed a complaint in federal district court challenging agreements in which Solvay Pharmaceuticals (Marietta, GA) paid generic drug makers Watson Pharmaceuticals (Corona, CA) and Par Pharmaceutical Companies (Woodcliff Lake, NJ) to delay generic competition to Solvay's branded testosterone-replacement drug "AndroGel," a prescription pharmaceutical with annual sales of more than $400 million, according to an FTC press release.

At its annual business briefing held last week, Merck & Co. outlined its short- and long-term strategy for growth. Its strategy is focused on increased penetration in emerging markets, the establishment of a business for developing follow-on biologics or biosimilars, and a new commercial model for product life-cycle management.

The European Commission (EC) published a preliminary report stating that competition in the pharmaceutical industry does not work as well as it should.

During its roundtable discussion titled "Follow-On Biologic (FOB) Drugs: Framework for Competition and Continued Innovation," The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) discussed likely effects, patent issues, and regulatory exclusivity periods concerning FOBs.

The Congressional Budget Office has released a report that provides a picture of the financial impact from the enaction of S.1695, the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2007.

With most deadlines missed for reviewing each abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) it receives, the US Food and Drug Administration is likely to take advice from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on how to speed up its process.

To keep up with applications, FDA promotes new testing and administrative methods.

The pharmaceutical market is undergoing a major transformation with companies moving more and more toward the generics business, according to a new report.

The US Food and Drug Administration launched a new program to increase the number and variety of generic drugs available to the public, beginning in FY2008.

A spate of drugs are scheduled to come off patent, offering vast potential and competition.

A new guidance issued by the US Food and Drug Administration earlier this month advises companies on how to treat polymorphic drug compounds?those that exhibit multiple structural forms?in filing abbreviated new drug applications.

Double-digit growth is projected for the US generic drug market, and the industry positions for opportunities in biosimilars.

Rockville, MD (May 31)-The US Food and Drug Administration issued a draft guidance on how to design bioequivalence (BE) studies for specific drug products to support abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs).

Darmstadt, Germany (May 13)-Mylan Laboratories Inc. and Merck KGaA have signed a share purchase agreement under which Mylan will acquire all of Merck's worldwide operations within Merck Generics, the company?s generics business.

Rockville, MD (May 1)-The US Food and Drug Administration issued a report, "Critical Path Opportunities for Generic Drugs," to identify the scientific challenges, including those in manufacturing science, in developing generic drugs and the opportunities for collaborative solutions in resolving those challenges.

Washington, DC (April 30)-Less than two weeks after the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee voted to reauthorize the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA), the bill this week moved onto the Senate floor.

Gurgaon, Haryana, India (Mar. 13)-Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited confirmed that it has made a nonbinding bid for the generic drug business of Merck KGaA.

Brussels (Feb. 13)-The European Generic Medicines Association raised concerns over what it terms ?the serious lack? of resources available to member states in the European Union (EU) to deal with the regulatory workload and bottleneck in new registrations caused by the new Decentralized Procedure (DCP) for approving drugs in Europe.

Princeton, NJ (Feb. 15, 2007)-Ranbaxy Inc., confirmed that federal officials conducted a search of its New Jersey offices on Feb. 14, 2007 and commented on its reported plan to acquire Merck's generics business.

Washington, DC (Feb. 14)?A congressional team has reintroduced the ?Access to Life-Saving Medicine Act,? which establishes a process through which the US Food and Drug Administration can approve generic copies of biologic drugs.

Darmstadt Germany (Jan. 8)-Merck KGaA closed on its roughly CHF 16.6 billion ($13.3 billion) deal to acquire a majority stake in the European biotechnology company Serono (Geneva, Switzerland), officially launched Merck Serono SA as a new entity within Merck KGaA, outlined its integration strategy, and announced plans to divest its generics business.

Brussels, Belgium (Dec. 5)-The debate over biosimilars in Europe was heightened last week between the European Generics Association and the International Alliance of Patients Organizations, a patient advocacy group that issued a briefing paper on biosimilars to the European Parliament, the legislative arm of the European Union (EU).

Brand-name manufacturers seek to protect their products.