Search
Our Supporters
You are here: News » News Archive 2010 » Teva Wyeth Pfizer
Teva Wyeth Pfizer
Drug Company News
Dr Allan Tennant reports
3rd of February 2010
Discontinuation of Beclazone
Teva have told DDA Online that they will discontinue Beclazone pressurised metered dose inhalers, 50mcg, 100mcg, 200mcg and 250mcg, from the 31st of March 2010.
This does not affect their Qvar, Salamol and Airomir products.
Wyeth join Pfizer DTP
From 12th of April 2010, Wyeth's prescription medicines will be distributed via Pfizer's Direct to Pharmacy (DTP) supply chain. From the same date Customer Service will also be handled by Pfizer's Customer Contact Centre on 0845 608 8866.
Supply and Customer Service arrangements for SMA Nutrition, Wyeth Consumer Healthcare and Wyeth Flu Vaccines remain unchanged.
Pfizer launches six generic medicines
Pfizer has over 80 off-patent medicines. They now propose to sell 6 generic medicines, metformin, finasteride, ondansetron, paroxetine, mirtazapine and mirtazapine OD.
Pfizer plans to increase the range of generic medicines offered to its customers, with further medicines expected to be launched throughout this year.
Reuters report that Pfizer struck a deal with India's Strides Arcolab in January to deliver 40 off-patent products -- primarily injectable cancer medicines for the USA market. It has made deals with other Indian generic suppliers last year.
We will wait to see how competitive are the Pfizer generic prices. Unless they are very competitive it is likely that these products will be dispensed to patients on want a particular brand of generic.
There press release goes onto say "This portfolio represents an opportunity to supply medicines to patients all over the world" It maybe that they are developing their Established Products Business Unit in anticipation of the increase in the generic market in the USA. This diversification maybe a response to the decline in the number of new blockbuster drugs.
Other companies are dipping their toes into the generic market including Merck, GSK and Sanofi-aventis.
On the 1st of February Pfizer announced it was entering the generic market in Japan, with the expectation of becoming the leader in this developing market. Teva entered last year and hope to have 10% of the market by 2015.
With new developing generic markets in the developed world emerging, the increase in demand for generics may result in world generic prices rising.