US Pharm.2008;33(12):38.
GPhA Congratulates
President-Elect Obama
In congratulating
Senator Obama on his election win, Kathleen Jaeger, president and CEO of the
Generic Pharmaceutical Association (GPhA), said that Obama and the new
Congress "must now tackle the serious challenges facing our economy, including
rising health care costs" by increasing access to "affordable generic and
biogeneric medicines." At GPhA's Annual Policy Conference held earlier this
year, Senator Obama's health policy advisor said that President-elect Obama
supports increased funding "to ensure a strong FDA," and would address
important issues facing the generic industry including "citizen petitions,
state carve-outs, Free Trade Agreements, and authorized generics as part of
his health care agenda."
Teva to Sell Generics in
Japan
Teva Pharmaceutical
Industries will start selling generic drugs in Japan as part of a joint
venture with Japanese drug firm Kowa Co. According to Reuters, Japan is
attempting to raise the market share of generic drugs in the Japanese drug
market to 30% by 2012 as its population ages and health care costs increase.
The use rate of generics in Japan is currently about 17% compared to
approximately 60% in the U.S., Britain, and Germany. To help boost generic
share in Japan, the Japanese government is offering incentives for pharmacies
to sell generics and has made generics the default option when filling
prescriptions.
Generic Use Highest During
Coverage Gap
A survey conducted
by Medco Health Solutions showed that seniors enrolled in Medicare Part D
would initially rather take a brand-name product than a generic, until they
reach the coverage gap, also known as the "donut hole," the time during which
they are no longer covered by the program; at that point they switch to an
available generic of the same drug. The study revealed that during the initial
phase of the Medicare benefit, when the plan provides drug coverage,
two-thirds of the medications used by beneficiaries are branded products and
only one-third are generic drugs. Once beneficiaries reach the coverage gap
and are responsible for the full cost of the drugs, the ratios of usage are
reversed. The use of generics rises to 71% and brand-name drug use falls to
29%.
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