Authorized generics

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Authorized generics are prescription drugs produced by brand pharmaceutical companies and marketed under a private label, at generic prices. Authorized generics compete with generic products in that they are identical to their brand counterpart in both active and inactive ingredients; [1] whereas according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Office of Generic Drugs, generic drugs are required to contain only the identical active ingredients as the brand. [2] Authorized generics compete with generics on price, quality and availability in the generic marketplace, and are marketed to consumers during and after what is commonly known as “the 180-day exclusivity period”. [3]

Contents

In 2011 the FTC issued a final report on authorized generics (following its 2009 interim report) that showed that when innovator companies launched authorized generics during the 180 day exclusivity period granted to the first generic company to file an ANDA, prices were significantly lower than when there was no authorized generic and no competition, thus benefiting consumers. [4] [5]

Public studies

According to Roper Public Affairs & Media, 2005 public research underlines consumer demand to have authorized generic prescription drugs available, showing over 80 percent of Americans want the option of authorized generic prescription drugs. [6] Several independent organizations, including Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, [7] [8] Sonecon, [9] and GPhA [10] have commissioned their own studies on authorized generics, furthering the competitive debate.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medication</span> Substance used to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent disease

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Over-the-counter drug</span> Medication available without a prescription

Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are medicines sold directly to a consumer without a requirement for a prescription from a healthcare professional, as opposed to prescription drugs, which may be supplied only to consumers possessing a valid prescription. In many countries, OTC drugs are selected by a regulatory agency to ensure that they contain ingredients that are safe and effective when used without a physician's care. OTC drugs are usually regulated according to their active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) rather than final products. By regulating APIs instead of specific drug formulations, governments allow manufacturers the freedom to formulate ingredients, or combinations of ingredients, into proprietary mixtures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Generic drug</span> Pharmaceutical equivalent to a brand-name product

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The Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) was a law passed by the United States Congress in 1992 which allowed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to collect fees from drug manufacturers to fund the new drug approval process. The Act provided that the FDA was entitled to collect a substantial application fee from drug manufacturers at the time a New Drug Application (NDA) or Biologics License Application (BLA) was submitted, with those funds designated for use only in Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) or Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) drug approval activities. In order to continue collecting such fees, the FDA is required to meet certain performance benchmarks, primarily related to the speed of certain activities within the NDA review process.

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References

  1. Federal Trade Commission (March 29, 2006). "FTC Proposes Study of Competitive Impacts of Authorized Generic Drugs". Archived from the original on 2008-04-16.
  2. Food and Drug Administration. "Office of Generic Drugs". Food and Drug Administration . Archived from the original on 18 March 2011. Retrieved March 16, 2011.
  3. Don Sosunov. "Authorized Generics - Examination Under IP Law and Antitrust Law, Ministry of Justice, Israel" (PDF). Retrieved October 22, 2010.[ permanent dead link ]
  4. "#223: Authorized Generic Drug Study". FTC. August 2011.
  5. "Authorized Generic Drugs: Short-Term Effects and Long-Term ImpactAuthorized Generic Drugs: Short-Term Effects and Long-Term Impact" (PDF). FTC. August 2011.
  6. The Gale Group (August 29, 2005). "Prasco Laboratories: Over 80 percent of Americans Want the Option of Authorized Generic Prescription Drugs; Research Underlines Consumer Demand to Have Authorized Generic Prescription Drugs Available".
  7. The Gale Group (August 29, 2005). "Prasco Laboratories: Over 80 percent of Americans Want the Option of Authorized Generic Prescription Drugs; Research Underlines Consumer Demand to Have Authorized Generic Prescription Drugs Available" . Retrieved March 16, 2011.
  8. IMS Consulting (Spring 2006). "Assessment of AuthorizedGenerics in the U.S." (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 27, 2009.
  9. Hassett, Kevin A.; Shapiro, Robert J. (May 2007). "The Impact of Authorized Generic Pharmaceuticalson the Introduction of Other Generic Pharmaceuticals" (PDF).
  10. The Generic Pharmaceutical Association (July 31, 2006). "Independent Analysis Reveals that Authorized Generics are Bad for Consumers, Lead to Higher Pharmaceutical Prices".[ permanent dead link ]