ACTIVE INGREDIENTS
Drug News
Generic Wave Continues Into Third Quarter First time generic releases add to an already high amount “It’s been an extraordinary year for generics,” said Rick Mingori, director of Trade Relations at PBA Health, “and there’s plenty more to come.” First and second quarter sales of first time releases for generic drugs have been steep. And, the percentage of use of generic drugs has risen in tune with the dollar amounts. Industry experts believe that more than 80% of all prescriptions will be filled with generic drugs by the end of 2012. A recent IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics study (April 2011) found that last year the top 10 drugs prescribed to consumers are generic, not brand. The first and second quarters of 2012 saw the generic releases of the following brand name drugs: Geodon® • Lexapro® • Plavix® • Provigil® • Seroquel® Both new prescriptions and generic switches have boosted the prescription and dispensing rate of these newly released products. Also, since plan sponsors are placing a greater emphasis on members with the highest volume and cost of prescriptions, the implementation of pricing tiers that encourage generic use has increased. With drugs like Cymbalta, Nexium, Copaxone and Celebrex due to lose their prescription patents in the next two to three years, generic growth is undeniable. A recent Morgan Stanley Research study “estimates Big Pharma price increases will average in excess of 15% per year through 2016 in an effort to keep revenues up in the face of multiple waves of patent expirations.” Patients and pharmacists should also expect the continued growth of educational or preventative programs and treatments, such as Medication Therapy Management. The Third Quarter Trio The third quarter of 2012 will see the generic release of three major pharmaceutical drugs: Actos®, Diovan &
Diovan® HTC, and Singulair®. Actos®, or Pioglitazone Hydrochloride, was previously manufactured by Takeda Pharmacueticals. The drug is used, in conjunction with changes in diet and regular exercise, to treat Type 2 Diabetes. Diovan® & Diovan® HTC, which will be known generically as Valsartan, was manufactured exclusively by Novartis. This drug is used to treat hypertension and has also been used to treat symptoms of congestive heart failure. Lastly, manufacturer Merck’s heavily prescribed brand drug Singulair® will be released under its generic name Montelukast. This drug, taken orally, is used to treat asthma symptoms as well as seasonal allergy symptoms such as wheezing, sneezing and trouble breathing. PBA Health’s First Fill Program Understanding the value and relative safety of generic drugs, your patients probably request the generic equivalents of brand drugs all the time. When you’re a member of PBA Health’s First Fill program, you can acquire new generic product immediately with guaranteed sale, special discounts and, most importantly, 30-day price protection in a market with rapid price erosion. Pharmacists who opt into the First Fill program will automatically receive shipments of newly released generic (and brand, depending on market potential) pharmaceuticals immediately after the approval date. All of the products in the PBA Health Warehouse, including First Fill products, meet our high safety standards. You’ll receive only top-quality, well-maintained products every time you receive a First Fill shipment through our VAWD-certified warehouse. All it takes to opt into this valuable program is to fill out an application. Call 816-245-5700 today and learn more about becoming a First Fill customer.
NDC
Description
Manufacturer
Brand Price
Generic Price
00049399060
Geodon 80mg Cap 60ea
Pfizer
$604.32
$218.56
00456202001
Lexapro® 20mg Tab 100ea
Forest
$418.02
$259.95
63653117106
Plavix 75mg Tab 30ea
BMS/Primar
$193.33
$4.34
63459020130
Provigil® 200mg Tab 30ea
Cephalon
$926.00
$539.26
00310027460
Seroquel 300mg Tab 60ea
Astrazeneca
$942.36
$29.04
00071015523
Lipitor® 10mg Tab 90ea
Pfizer
$337.30
$15.24
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