According to an analysis of prescription claims released today by Medco Health Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: MHS), total generic dispensing rates for allergy medicine Allegra topped 87 percent within 30 days after generics became available.
The average generic fill rate at retail pharmacies for the group was more than 86 percent; at Medco’s mail-service pharmacies the rate averaged 95 percent.
Pfizers' antibiotic Zithromax, the most recent and largest of four major drugs to move off patent, obtained an unprecedented generic dispensing rate at retail pharmacies of more than 90 percent as of the first week in January.
The patent on Zithromax expired on Nov. 1, 2005 and three generic versions of the drug received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on November 14.
Pharmalive
Insiders' view: The US has increasingly been seen by Big Pharma as their golden goose. They have felt free to fleece the American public and charge way more for medicines than in the Europe and Canada. That may not be the case for much longer. It's part of the problem Insider has commented on before.
Within the next five years nearly 70 brand-name drugs, including 19 blockbusters such as Zocor collectively accounting for more than $45 billion in U.S. sales are anticipated to become available as generics.
These conversion rates to generics must make Big Pharma shudder! Especially since their new "blockbuster" pipeline is so dry!
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