Drug firms 'block' cheap medicine

[Fop 1]

Drug firms 'block' cheap medicine

 

Generic drug companies complain it is difficult to get drugs on the market

Drug companies are blocking or delaying the entry of cheaper generic medicines into the EU, pushing up medicine bills, the European Commission has said.

 

Their actions cost EU healthcare providers 3bn euros ($3.9bn; £2.5bn) in savings between 2000 and 2007, it said.

 

It added that drug firms used legal action and multiple patents to stop rivals getting to market.

 

Drug firms said the "perfectly lawful" measures were justified to protect investment in research and development.

 

Market access

 

Generic drug companies - which sell cheaper versions of drugs once the patent has expired - have long complained that it is difficult to get their drugs to market in Europe.

 

Worker in factory

Big Pharma invests heavily in the development of new drugs

 

The Commission said that innovators filed multiple applications to stop generic drugs getting to market - in one case, there were 1,300 patents for a single drug. ( )

 

The report found that owners of original drugs often intervened in national approval procedures for generic medicines.

 

There were nearly 700 cases of reported patent litigation and more than 200 settlements between brand name drug companies and generic companies.

 

More than 10% of these settlements limited the entry of the generic drug to the market.

 

Fine threat

 

"Market entry of generic companies and the development of new and more affordable medicines is sometimes blocked or delayed, at significant cost to healthcare systems, consumers and taxpayers," said Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes.

 

"It is still early days but the Commission will not hesitate to open antitrust cases against companies where there are indications that the antitrust rules may have been breached," she added.

 

The Commission could impose large fines on drug companies if they have engaged in unfair practices.

 

In 2005, AstraZeneca was fined 60m euros for blocking cheaper rivals to Losec, its heartburn and ulcer pill.

 

Pressure mounts

 

Drug firms use "perfectly lawful practices - such as patent portfolios, patent litigation and the release of improved medicines," the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) said.

 

"These [practices] are essential for innovators to protect their huge investment in R&D [research and development]," it said, adding that the 17% of turnover industry spent on R&D exceeds any other sector in Europe.

 

The EFPIA - which said the Commission's report missed the opportunity to tackle the real issues facing the industry - called for a more competitive market for generic drugs, pointing out that Europeans pay more for generic drugs than US citizens.

 

In response to claims that the delayed or blocked sale of generic drugs was pushing up healthcare costs, the EFPIA said: "A single member state, the Netherlands, achieved greater savings - up to 400m euros - in one year, on only 33 medicines, simply by promoting greater price competition between generics."

 

The Commission report increases the pressure on the global pharmaceuticals industry.

 

Barack Obama, the US President-elect, is also expected to try to cut costs as part of the reform of healthcare coverage in the US.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7754048.stm

 

 

 

First the UN, now the EC.

[luckyluke 2]

I've ruined it now, but it amuses me that the thread below this as you look at the forum is Danny's Viagra thread

[ewerk 31601]

I avoided the last thread on this subject and don't know a whole lot about it but this is my understanding of what is happening, please correct me if I'm wrong: Pharmaceutical companies don't want other companies copying the drugs that they have spent millions of pounds developing? Is that what this is all about?

[Renton 22501]

I avoided the last thread on this subject and don't know a whole lot about it but this is my understanding of what is happening, please correct me if I'm wrong: Pharmaceutical companies don't want other companies copying the drugs that they have spent millions of pounds developing? Is that what this is all about?

 

They have a protected patent lasting for 10-20 years or so, after this in theory anyone can make a generic version of their drugs. Naturally the drug companies pull out all the stops to slow this process as much as possible.

 

It's amazing though even when a drug is availably generically how much stock some people will put in the brand name, my mother in law insists Neurofen is superior to generic ibuprofen, for instance. It only ocsts ten times more too, bargain.

[ewerk 31601]

I avoided the last thread on this subject and don't know a whole lot about it but this is my understanding of what is happening, please correct me if I'm wrong: Pharmaceutical companies don't want other companies copying the drugs that they have spent millions of pounds developing? Is that what this is all about?

 

They have a protected patent lasting for 10-20 years or so, after this in theory anyone can make a generic version of their drugs. Naturally the drug companies pull out all the stops to slow this process as much as possible.

 

It's amazing though even when a drug is availably generically how much stock some people will put in the brand name, my mother in law insists Neurofen is superior to generic ibuprofen, for instance. It only ocsts ten times more too, bargain.

 

Ah right, so it's multinational companies simply doing what multinational companies do then.

[Fop 1]

I avoided the last thread on this subject and don't know a whole lot about it but this is my understanding of what is happening, please correct me if I'm wrong: Pharmaceutical companies don't want other companies copying the drugs that they have spent millions of pounds developing? Is that what this is all about?

 

They have a protected patent lasting for 10-20 years or so, after this in theory anyone can make a generic version of their drugs. Naturally the drug companies pull out all the stops to slow this process as much as possible.

 

It's amazing though even when a drug is availably generically how much stock some people will put in the brand name, my mother in law insists Neurofen is superior to generic ibuprofen, for instance. It only ocsts ten times more too, bargain.

 

Ah right, so it's multinational companies simply doing what multinational companies do then.

 

Yup, whilst pretending they are "helping" people.

 

 

It's just Chezzy is so funny when he's saying this isn't happening...... yet the EU seem to think it is.

[ChezGiven 0]

Yes ewerk. Generics companies are all run by lawyers, their CEOs and Boards are all patent lawyers and Legal eagles with no experience in clinical research. The generics companies make money out of the healthcare system without investing one single dollar back in. The fair comparison to the 3bn euros figure mentioned would be the expenditure on R&D in Europe since 2000 by the pharma industry. Around 80bn maybe?

 

That story is based on the cost estimate in the first paragrpah which was estimated in a study run by the European Generics manufacturers association. Which basically means fop is propagating the views of Lawyers who head up high profit margin healthcare companies who invest nothing in health.

 

Well done Chompsky.

[Happy Face 29]

I'd make the point that the public make a significant investment in the research that goes into those drugs too (£700M in tax credits per annum in the UK) but I'll get abused for it and reminded that they pay a LOT more taxes than they manage to get cut.

[Fop 1]

I'd make the point that the public make a significant investment in the research that goes into those drugs too (£700M in tax credits per annum in the UK) but I'll get abused for it and reminded that they pay a LOT more taxes than they manage to get cut.

Aye, the problem with public funded research is the public pays and private industry profits, which is what is forever ripping the heart out of public research.

 

 

Yes ewerk. Generics companies are all run by lawyers, their CEOs and Boards are all patent lawyers and Legal eagles with no experience in clinical research. The generics companies make money out of the healthcare system without investing one single dollar back in. The fair comparison to the 3bn euros figure mentioned would be the expenditure on R&D in Europe since 2000 by the pharma industry. Around 80bn maybe?

 

That story is based on the cost estimate in the first paragrpah which was estimated in a study run by the European Generics manufacturers association. Which basically means fop is propagating the views of Lawyers who head up high profit margin healthcare companies who invest nothing in health.

 

Well done Chompsky.

 

If you can't deny the truth, flannel for time, and hope it goes away.

[Renton 22501]

I'd think it is reciprocal Fop. Pharmaceuticals invest a hell of a lot in supporting conferences and grants for PhD students etc.

 

P.S. your 'retort' to Chez was pathetic, as is now expected from you.

Edited November 28, 2008 by Renton

[ewerk 31601]

Yup, whilst pretending they are "helping" people.

 

 

It's just Chezzy is so funny when he's saying this isn't happening...... yet the EU seem to think it is.

 

Huge corporations in trying to make a profit shocker! This is no different to any other business except that people get much more emotive when it's about healthcare. It's an industry like any other.

[ChezGiven 0]

I'd make the point that the public make a significant investment in the research that goes into those drugs too (£700M in tax credits per annum in the UK) but I'll get abused for it and reminded that they pay a LOT more taxes than they manage to get cut.

Aye, the problem with public funded research is the public pays and private industry profits, which is what is forever ripping the heart out of public research.

 

 

Yes ewerk. Generics companies are all run by lawyers, their CEOs and Boards are all patent lawyers and Legal eagles with no experience in clinical research. The generics companies make money out of the healthcare system without investing one single dollar back in. The fair comparison to the 3bn euros figure mentioned would be the expenditure on R&D in Europe since 2000 by the pharma industry. Around 80bn maybe?

 

That story is based on the cost estimate in the first paragrpah which was estimated in a study run by the European Generics manufacturers association. Which basically means fop is propagating the views of Lawyers who head up high profit margin healthcare companies who invest nothing in health.

 

Well done Chompsky.

 

If you can't deny the truth, flannel for time, and hope it goes away.

 

Brilliant response actually, as it perfectly characterised itself.

[ChezGiven 0]

I'd make the point that the public make a significant investment in the research that goes into those drugs too (£700M in tax credits per annum in the UK) but I'll get abused for it and reminded that they pay a LOT more taxes than they manage to get cut.

 

Irrelevant. Generics companies dont do research.

[Happy Face 29]

Yup, whilst pretending they are "helping" people.

 

 

It's just Chezzy is so funny when he's saying this isn't happening...... yet the EU seem to think it is.

 

Huge corporations in trying to make a profit shocker! This is no different to any other business except that people get much more emotive when it's about healthcare. It's an industry like any other.

 

 

It's not.

 

It saves lives. Time Warner just take your mind off all the death that surrounds you.

 

The better argument would be that the huge profit is an excellent incentive for companies to keep producing the next life saving drug.

Edited November 28, 2008 by Happy Face

[Fop 1]

I'd think it is reciprocal Fop. Pharmaceuticals invest a hell of a lot in supporting conferences and grants for PhD students etc.

 

P.S. your 'retort' to Chez was pathetic, as is now expected from you.

 

It's nothing compared to what they bring in.

 

 

Yup, whilst pretending they are "helping" people.

 

 

It's just Chezzy is so funny when he's saying this isn't happening...... yet the EU seem to think it is.

 

Huge corporations in trying to make a profit shocker! This is no different to any other business except that people get much more emotive when it's about healthcare. It's an industry like any other.

Indeed, it's more the tactics they use to get those profits. And yes the people that suffer and/or die to guarantee those profits. And the people like Chezzy that try to defend that suffering and deaths in the name of profit.

[Happy Face 29]

I'd make the point that the public make a significant investment in the research that goes into those drugs too (£700M in tax credits per annum in the UK) but I'll get abused for it and reminded that they pay a LOT more taxes than they manage to get cut.

 

Irrelevant. Generics companies dont do research.

 

Sorry, I thought Ewerk had referred to phama companies getting paid back for their research.

[Fop 1]

If you can't deny the truth, flannel for time, and hope it goes away.

 

Brilliant response actually, as it perfectly characterised itself.

 

Indeed. Are you willing to discuss patents now by the way? EU & Fop versus Chezzy.

[Fop 1]

I'd make the point that the public make a significant investment in the research that goes into those drugs too (£700M in tax credits per annum in the UK) but I'll get abused for it and reminded that they pay a LOT more taxes than they manage to get cut.

 

Irrelevant. Generics companies dont do research.

 

Are you really saying private companies don't make profits off publicly funded research?

[ewerk 31601]

Yup, whilst pretending they are "helping" people.

 

 

It's just Chezzy is so funny when he's saying this isn't happening...... yet the EU seem to think it is.

 

Huge corporations in trying to make a profit shocker! This is no different to any other business except that people get much more emotive when it's about healthcare. It's an industry like any other.

 

 

It's not.

 

It saves lives. Time Warner just take your mind off all the death that surrounds you.

 

The better argument would be that the huge profit is an excellent incentive to for companies to keep producing the next life saving drug.

 

 

IMO access to medicine isn't a right. It has to be developed and paid for, while saving lives is nice we can't expect companies not to try and make money off their investment.

[Renton 22501]

Yup, whilst pretending they are "helping" people.

 

 

It's just Chezzy is so funny when he's saying this isn't happening...... yet the EU seem to think it is.

 

Huge corporations in trying to make a profit shocker! This is no different to any other business except that people get much more emotive when it's about healthcare. It's an industry like any other.

 

 

It's not.

 

It saves lives. Time Warner just take your mind off all the death that surrounds you.

 

The better argument would be that the huge profit is an excellent incentive to for companies to keep producing the next life saving drug.

 

Lot's of things save lives, directly or indirectly, and many pharmaceutical products (e.g. Viagra, analgesics) have nothing to do with saving lives. If you're going to keep peddling this idea that pharmaceutical companies should be governed by different rules, please direct me to a system that works better for the patient interest. I think you have partly answered it yourself in the last line mind.

[Fop 1]

IMO access to medicine isn't a right. It has to be developed and paid for, while saving lives is nice we can't expect companies not to try and make money off their investment.

True, which is why they have to be brought to heel politically, otherwise they'll try every trick in the book to maximise their profits, no matter the cost to others.

 

 

 

 

Which is basically what the EU is saying/doing here.

Edited November 28, 2008 by Fop

[ewerk 31601]

IMO access to medicine isn't a right. It has to be developed and paid for, while saving lives is nice we can't expect companies not to try and make money off their investment.

True, which is why they have to be brought to heel politically, otherwise they'll try every trick in the book to maximise their profits, no matter the cost to others.

 

Why? As Renton just said, why should pharmaceutical companies be treated any differently? Should the government intervene in the defence industry to keep thier prices down as it may save our soldiers' lives? Where do you stop?

[Fop 1]

IMO access to medicine isn't a right. It has to be developed and paid for, while saving lives is nice we can't expect companies not to try and make money off their investment.

True, which is why they have to be brought to heel politically, otherwise they'll try every trick in the book to maximise their profits, no matter the cost to others.

 

Why? As Renton just said, why should pharmaceutical companies be treated any differently? Should the government intervene in the defence industry to keep thier prices down as it may save our soldiers' lives? Where do you stop?

 

Should the government allow the defence industry to sell whatever it wants to whomever wanted it in the name of profit? Where do you start?

[manc-mag 1]

I think Fop should be made to put down a minimum ten line, clear and concise skeleton argument as a 'deposit' or 'guarantee' before being allowed to participate in these arguments anymore. The cheek of him demanding people 'discuss' or 'answer' his questions when he unashamedly ignores well structured arguments at will has meant his credibility has been shot to shit for months now. Tiresome tbh.

[ewerk 31601]

IMO access to medicine isn't a right. It has to be developed and paid for, while saving lives is nice we can't expect companies not to try and make money off their investment.

True, which is why they have to be brought to heel politically, otherwise they'll try every trick in the book to maximise their profits, no matter the cost to others.

 

Why? As Renton just said, why should pharmaceutical companies be treated any differently? Should the government intervene in the defence industry to keep thier prices down as it may save our soldiers' lives? Where do you stop?

 

Should the government allow the defence industry to sell whatever it wants to whomever wanted it in the name of profit? Where do you start?

 

Yes the government regulates the sale of weapons, it also regulates the sale of drugs and medicines. What's your point?