Brand-Name And Generic Drug Makers Take Fight To States
The battle concerns state laws that would require pharmacists to notify doctors and patients when they substitute generic versions of drugs derived from living organisms known as biologics.
Stateline: Drug Giants Brawl Over Copycat Drugs
The year 2013 began with the promise of a state-by-state, coast-to-coast battle between the makers of brand-name medications derived from living organisms—known as biologics—and those who make and sell copies of those drugs. The battle has turned into a rout, at least for now. In state after state, the brand-name makers—led by the pharmaceutical giants Amgen and Genentech—have been unable to convince state legislatures to require pharmacists to notify doctors (and sometimes patients) when they substitute generics for brand-name biologic drugs. Manufacturers of copies fiercely opposed such a requirement, which they said would put them at a competitive disadvantage (Ollove, 8/8).
