DRUG STORES IN THE PHILIPPINES & GENERIC DRUGSTORES MEDICINE

Ache? Pain? Sprain? Which pill works best for what ails you? With more than 75 percent of us taking over-the-counter painkillers at least once a month (per a Self.com poll), it's key to know the safest and most effective choice.

Acetaminophen (found in Tylenol)
Best for:
Fever
Mild to moderate musculoskeletal pain
Mild to moderate back pain
Mild to moderate headache

Pain-signal reducer
How it functions isn't well understood, but acetaminophen may block COX-3, a protein that helps send out the body's pain signals. It's not as potent as some other OTC painkillers such as naproxen and ibuprofen, so it's typically effective only for low-intensity aches. If you've had alcohol in the past 24 hours (or plan to), hit the brakes: Too much acetaminophen and alcohol can damage the liver. An advisory committee to the FDA has proposed lowering the maximum daily dose from 4 grams (which may be too much for some people); watch these pages for the new limit. If you feel weak or "off" after use, see a doc, stat.

Aspirin (found in Bayer and Anacin)
Best for:
Mild toothache
Moderately sore muscles
Mild to moderate back pain
Mild to moderate headache

Blood declutterer
Aspirin eases pain and inflammation by slowing the production of prostaglandins, molecules that activate pain receptors. The active ingredient, acetylsalicylic acid, also makes blood platelets less sticky, which is why people at risk for heart attack take aspirin to help prevent clots. In many people, acetylsalicylic acid reaches toxicity faster than do ibuprofen and naproxen (the maximum daily dose is 4 grams), so regular use has a higher risk for side effects such as gastric irritation. Thus aspirin is useful for mild to moderate, but not severe or chronic, pain. If you just had or are about to have surgery, steer clear.
See our tips: 10 secrets to staying pain-free!

Ibuprofen (found in Advil) and naproxen (found in Aleve)
Best for:
Acute muscle injury
Arthritis
Joint pain
Lower-back pain
Moderate to severe headache
Moderate to severe menstrual cramps

Anti-inflammatories
Like aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen inhibit prostaglandin production to stop inflammation and pain. But they can also disrupt H2, a gut histamine, stimulating the overproduction of gastric acid and leading to stomach upset and even bleeding, warns Rollin M. Gallagher, M.D., of Philadelphia, past president of the American Academy of Pain Medicine. If you have a history of stomach problems (like ulcers), these might not be for you. Call your doc if you have stomach pain, vomiting or black stools or if you cough blood after taking one. The max daily dose for ibuprofen is 1,200 milligrams; for naproxen, 600 mg.

The most important rule
Listen to your body! An OTC pill that works well for one person may not help another, so trial and error can be your best pal. One caveat for pregnant ladies: Ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen can cause heart problems in the fetus, so consult your M.D. before you take any pill.

Tags: pills, pain killers, pain, medicine

Philippines Seeks Price Reductions on More Medicines

2010-01-19T01:06:00.001-08:00

Jan. 18 (Bloomberg) -- The Philippines is seeking price cuts on more medicines, asking drugmakers including Pfizer Inc. and GlaxoSmithKline Plc to halve prices of some top-selling products for the second time in five months. Medicines in the Philippines can be two to three times higher than in neighboring Asian nations, the government has said.

The reductions may affect more than 21 drugs and could be introduced by the end of March, Alex Padilla, undersecretary at the nation’s health department, said in an interview in Manila today. Five “major” drug companies have submitted lists of medicines and the health department expects others to submit lists this week, Padilla said. The deadline for submission was extended to Jan. 22 from Jan. 14, he said. Continue reading here http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-01-18/philippines-seeks-second-round-of-50-percent-drug-price-cuts.html

Medicine prices in Philippines are higher than in other places

2010-01-06T23:51:00.001-08:00

Costly medicine in the Philippines The Philippine Star September 09, 2005 Other public officials have pointed this out before, as well as many people who have been abroad. Medicine prices in this country are higher than in other places, making the cost of basic health care prohibitive for millions of Filipinos.

In previous years the government has addressed the problem by promoting generic drugs and even importing some of the most widely used medicine for common ailments. The efforts have paid off, but there are still too many drugs that are beyond the reach of the masses. And there is still public resistance to using generic drugs as manufacturers of branded medicines warn of the unreliable efficacy of generic drugs, particularly those imported and made by little known companies.

Medicine prices are so high that many Filipinos suffering from debilitating illnesses that need lifetime medication, such as diabetes and cardiac ailments, simply wait for death. Many Filipinos don’t bother taking medicine to relieve the discomfort of mild afflictions such as coughs. Continue reading here http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=295722

Unfair to Mercury Drug

2009-12-09T15:30:00.000-08:00

There are reports that multinational pharmaceutical firm Pfizer has threatened Mercury Drug Corp. that it would stop supplying Lipitor and that it would file a case in court if the latter insists on selling a generic version of its pricey product. If this is true, then it can be said that Pfizer may have gone too far.

If this story about the alleged Pfizer threat against Mercury Drug is true, then we, Filipinos, have once again been shown the power of Pfizer’s business and political power. If it is true that Mercury Drug has capitulated to the reported Pfizer threat, then sick Filipinos who do not have enough money for their Lipitor requirements will just have to bite their lips and accept this sad reality.

But by most indications, that story about the alleged threat could be true. For one, we don’t think the likes of our fellow Atenean and show business personality Subas Herrero would lie. It was Herrero whom media quoted in an exposé about the alleged threat by Pfizer against the Mercury Drug chain.

If it was Pfizer’s intention to draw a wedge between this much-loved drugstore chain and Filipinos, it may have scored some points. But what for? Continue reading here http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideOpinion.htm?f=2009/december/9/alvincapino.isx&d=/2009/december/9

My comment: On a recent visit to Mercury Drug and I asked for a Generic drug instead of the brand name, the clerk said they don't carry it. Mercury will suffer if they only carry Brand names as people are seeking lower cost alternatives and the Generic Drugstores are growing by leaps and bounds.

Unilab vows to launch more branded generic drugs

2009-11-15T14:15:00.001-08:00

United Laboratories Inc. (Unilab), the country's biggest drug manufacturer, vows to continue launching branded generic drugs to provide quality but cheaper medicines to the public even as it faces a patentinfringement suit from Pfizer Inc. for launching Avamax, the generic drug equivalent of Pfizer's Lipitor. Jose Maria A. Ochave, Unilab vice-president forlegal services group, expects sales of Avamax (anti-cholesterol drug) to reach P20 million next year from P15 million this year.

Ochave, however, said that sales projection for Avamax also included those from Mercury, but which had not been carrying Avamax for unknown reason. The extensive Mercury drugstore chain accounts for 40 percent of the total medicine sales in the country.

But this is only a small portion of the P890 million sales of Lipitor, which is growing at 21.5 percent annually, Ochave said.

Ochave also said that Unilab was even coming out with a generic drug equivalent of Pfizer drug Zithromax (Azithromycin, an antibiotics drug), in the first quarter of next year.

But Unilab would be using the monohydrate raw material to avoid a patent issue over Pfizers di-hydrate.

Ochave said this even as the company faced a patent infringement suit from multinational drug company Pfizer for coming up with Avamax, the generic drug equivalent of the Lipitor (Atorvastatin).
Ochave has downplayed the impact of the Pfizer suit, saying the Lipitor patent, set to expire in 2012, was weak and frivolous and for that Unilab also filed a case before the Intellectual Property of the Philippines (IPO) for the cancellation of the Lipitor patent.

Ochave said this was not the first that we are going after each other, noting that there had been several instances in the past that Unilab came up with generic drug equivalent of the branded products.

But this is the first time that Pfizer sued them and this is also the first time for them to file for the cancellation of a particular patent on the ground that the Lipitor patent is weak and frivolous.
Lawyer Susan D. Villanueva, an intellectual property expert, said that the Lipitor patent granted in 2004 in the Philippines was actually a mere reinstatement of the two expired Philippine patents and one expired U.S. patent.

This makes it (Lipitor) the third patent in the country and that falls under evergreening the patentability of a drug when it fact there was nothing new in it and therefore no longer patentable, she said.

Ochave said there was no stopping them in the marketing of Avamax, which is 30 percent cheaper than Lipitor, unless the court will prohibit them because under Section 91 of the IP Code, the law does not give the patent owner the exclusive right to use but only right to prohibit.

Ochave also said that the patent owner of Lipitor is not Pfizer but Warner Lambert of New Jersey. In the complaints filed before the Makati Regional Trial Court, the co-plaintiffs are Pfizer and Warner Lambert LLC. Thus, Unilab filed a motion to dismiss the case because the patent owner was not Warner Lambert LLC but Warner Lambert of New Jersey. Continue Reading here http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/2649988/

Tags: unilab philippines, Avamaxm, Pfizer's Lipitor, Zithromax,Azithromycin, Mercury drugstore chain, Warner Lambert

DOH to probe harassment charges vs. Pfizer

2009-11-13T15:32:00.000-08:00

ACTOR/comedian Subas Herrero on Friday expressed dismay that the leading drugstore chain in the country refuses to sell medicines that are priced lower than those sold by multinational pharmaceutical companies.

Herrero, speaking as a consumer, said he is heavily burdened because the maintenance drugs he has been taking since being diagnosed as diabetic and suffering a stroke several years ago cost P30,000 a month.

“I cannot work because of my condition,” Herrero told mediamen at the weekly forum, Balitaan sa Hotel Rembrandt. He came on a wheel chair to share his experiences as an outpatient.
He said he practically begged his children to support his maintenance medicine.

According to Herrero, he is a victim of the shortage in distribution because Mercury Drug, the largest local drug retailer, does not carry cheaper medicines than Pfizer products.

It developed that the Esguerra and Blanco Law Office has filed a motion asking South Star Drug, Watsons, Rose Pharmacy and Amesco Drugs of Davao to cease and desist from selling generic versions of Atorvastatin calcium.

The law office’s client is Pfizer Philippines, whose sale of Atorvastatin calcium, a medicine to lower cholesterol, has been greatly affected by the success of its generic version in the market.
In their letter to the four drug chains dated October 7, 2009, the lawyers of the firm claimed that Pfizer Philippines, which is the exclusive distributor of Warner Lambert products, is “the registered owner of patents covering Atorvastatin calcium.”

“We are informed that your establishment is selling and distributing generic versions of Atorvastatin calcium. Said generic version of Atorvastatin calcium were manufactured, imported, distributed and sold without our clients’ authority and consent, and infringe our clients’ existing patent and exclusive distribution rights, thus causing grave and irreparable damage and injury to them,” the letter signed by the counsel of the law firm said.

Dr. Robert Louie So, chief of the National Drug Policy under the Department of Health, who is among the resource speakers, said that this was the first time he heard about the alleged harassment.

“We need concrete and hard evidences against anybody to make the case stand. If we found prima facie evidence, we will file appropriate charges under the existing law,” So told newsmen.
Herrero claimed that he can no longer sustained the high prize of Lipitor, the product name of Atorvastatin calcium manufactured by Pfizer and he is looking for its generic version with the same effect but cheaper in price.

Herrero further said that distribution of cheap medicines is the main problem of the Health department and must double check why Mercury Drug does not carry the generic versions of some of the drugs manufactured by Pfizer. Read the original article here http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/news/nation/5926-doh-to-probe-harassment-charges-vs-pfizer

Philippine Generic drugs promote patients' compliance

2009-11-12T15:51:00.000-08:00

MANILA, Philippines - For patients with chronic diseases that require long-term medication, high quality yet affordable generic medicine are a big help in complying with treatment and successfully managing their illness.

"In these financially tough times, the high cost of medicine often discourages patients from complying and continuing with their treatment.

Quality, affordable generic medicine help patients with chronic conditions stay on their prescribed maintenance regimen, thereby enhancing treatment success," said Dr. Danilo Kuizon, consultant cardiologist at the Philippine Heart Center and St. Luke's Medical Center.

"All Zydus Cadila manufacturing plants are FDA approved and produce high-quality generic medicine that are bioequivalent to branded innovator drugs," said Boom Dizon, country manager of Zydus Phils. Inc.

"Zydus generic medicine are 40 to 60 percent less expensive than branded
innovator medicine. At Zydus, quality is affordable," Dizon added. Continue
reading here
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=522458&publicationSubCategoryId=75

Read all about Drugstores in the Philippines and Generic medicines here http://genericsphilippines.blogspot.com/

Tags: Generic drugs promote patients' compliance

MANILA, Philippines - For patients with chronic diseases that require long-term medication, high quality yet affordable generic medicine are a big help in complying with treatment and successfully managing their illness.

"In these financially tough times, the high cost of medicine often discourages patients from complying and continuing with their treatment.

Quality, affordable generic medicine help patients with chronic conditions stay on their prescribed maintenance regimen, thereby enhancing treatment success," said Dr. Danilo Kuizon, consultant cardiologist at the Philippine Heart Center and St. Luke's Medical Center.

"All Zydus Cadila manufacturing plants are FDA approved and produce high-quality generic medicine that are bioequivalent to branded innovator drugs," said Boom Dizon, country manager of Zydus Phils. Inc.

"Zydus generic medicine are 40 to 60 percent less expensive than branded
innovator medicine. At Zydus, quality is affordable," Dizon added. Continue
reading here
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=522458&publicationSubCategoryId=75

Read all about Drugstores in the Philippines and Generic medicines here http://genericsphilippines.blogspot.com/

Tags: Philippines filipino generic drugs, generic drugs where to buy, generic drugstores locations, drugstores in the philippines directory

GENERIC DRUGSTORES IN THE PHILIPPINES

2009-11-11T14:47:00.001-08:00

Generic drugs are always less expensive, it cost about thirty percent to eighty percent less than the brand name drug. Generic drugs mean more cost-savings to the consumers. Its use can save patients and even insurance companies thousands of dollars without compromising the quality of health care. According to the U.S. Congressional Budget Office, generic drugs save consumers an estimated $8 to $10 billion a year at retail pharmacies. Even more billions are saved when hospitals use generics.

So if your on a budget, the generics stores maybe a solution.

The following is a list of several Generic drugstores in the Philippines and some full service drugstores as well. Add others you know of here in the Philippines and their websites in the comments section

Also check out the reduction in prices in drugs effective August 15, 2009 here price list

http://drugprices.wordpress.com/

THEGENERICSPHARMACY

The company ventured into selling generic medicines. In 2001, the retail pharmacy operations was successfully launched. By the end of 2008, 150 stores will be operating NATIONWIDE. To keep the momentum, they started to franchise their retail stores and became the first generics retail pharmacy to franchise in the Philippines.

Main Branch: THEGENERICSPHARMACY Banawe, Quezon City Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 8:30am to 5:30pm Address: 459 Quezon Avenue corner Banawe, QUEZON CITY E-mail: comments@thegenericspharmacy.com

They are opening a number of stores all over the Philippines and have a number in Cebu already.

check out the links below to see the locations all over the Philippines including cebu
http://www.thegenericspharmacy.com/contact.php

Cebu has already about 30 stores

Generika Generics

Mostly Manila branches now http://generika.com.ph/branches/

There is also a blog report that there is a chain of drug stores all over the RP named Generic Drug Store. What a coincidence ! heehee They sell generic Plavic and all other drugs for a LOT less. My Enalapril is cheap enough for me here in Tacloban that I do not buy from USA or from Internet pharmacies. Try both Generic Drug Store and Alpha Pharmacies, another generic chain of drug stores in the RP. Alpha is usually even less expensive than is Generic. I was unable to find them online so they must not have websites or google is not searching for them correctly.

My Botika” Distributor of Quality Generic and Branded Medicines and Medical Supplies “ Your One-Stop Shop !! online ordering. Their website says Are you looking for cheap generic drugs?? We all have it thru our online pharmacy. We offer shipping nationwide. We do have paracetamol. mefenamic acid, decongestants, multivitamins, antibiotics and other over-the-counter drugs. If you’re looking for a particular medicine that needs prescription, you just have to show it to us first before we begin transaction.

We also cater to wholesale order from other pharmacy nationwide. We offer big discount to bulk orders. QUALITY GUARANTEED !!

http://www.mybotika.webs.com/

Another online drugstore generic in the Philippines is CNN Generics
http://www.cnn-generics.com/cnn/more_cat.php

Are you looking for cheap generic drugs?? We all have it thru our online pharmacy. We offer shipping nationwide. We do have paracetamol. mefenamic acid, decongestants, multivitamins, antibiotics and other over-the-counter drugs. If you’re looking for a particular medicine that needs prescription, you just have to show it to us first before we begin transaction.

Sulit advertiser Generic and branded drugs here
http://www.sulit.com.ph/index.php/view+classifieds/id/1206598/Cheap+Generic+Drugs,+Branded+Medicines+and+Medical+Supplies+Online

The Botika ng Bayan is an upscale drugstore that provides imported medicines, as well as medicines from local manufacturers, to Filipinos for a cheaper price. It is part of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s social program to make available frequently used medicines at half the price for the less privileged Filipinos, which include senior citizens.

Launched in December 2004, the Botika ng Bayan imports mainly from India and Pakistan but also carries local branded generic drugs. Most of the medicines being imported are for asthma, hypertension and diabetes. Through this project, a network of privately run drug stores would be set up to provide products guaranteed by the Department of Health (DOH) and the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD).

http://www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph/library/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=139&Itemid=27

Locations http://muranggamot.com/botika-ng-bayan-locations/

he following are Not generic but full service drug storesbut contact information can be useful.

Mercury Drug Corporation
http://www.mercurydrug.com

Rose Pharmacy Inc.
16 E Osmena corner Bacayo Streets, Cebu City, PH-6000, Philippines
()63 032 254 1491, 63 032 255 4204 fax,
Primary SIC: Drug Stores And Proprietary Stores, Primary NAICS: Pharmacies and Drug Stores
Description: Retail: Wholesale and retail of medicines, surgical and hospital supplies but strangely they don’t have a website even if they are a full service drugstore all over the Philippines with store locations and contact information. They have over 140 locations.

Started out as a neighborhood drugstore along Martires St. (now M.J. Cuenco Ave.) in Cebu City in 1952, Rose Pharmacy has grown into one of the largest drugstore chain of stores in the country.

Watsons or A.S. Watson

Watsons or A.S. Watson is the retail and consumer division of the Hong Kong-based conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. A. S. Watson has been the largest health and beauty retailer in the world.

In Asia, Watsons main retail business is the “Watsons Your Personal Store” drugstore chain. Watsons now operates this store format in several territories in Asia including Hong Kong, mainland China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Macau, South Korea and The Philippines. It has recently launched this format in Turkey, Estonia and Slovenia.

In the Philippines Watsons Your Personal Store (in collaboration with SM Prime Holdings)

SM Cebu there is at least three Watson stores and one more in the SM Department store. Their drugstores have no numbering system for customers waiting in line to be served.

http://www.watsons.com.ph/web/ph/

More Filipinos buying generic drugs – DOH Try your generic drugstore today!

2009-11-11T14:45:00.000-08:00

MANILA, Philippines – Six out of 10 Filipinos are opting for generic medicines over more expensive branded counterparts paving the way for healthy competition in the local pharmaceutical industry, according to Health secretary Francisco Duque III. Duque said more Filipinos are buying generic-branded medicines that are up to 80 percent cheaper.

Generic drugs are always less expensive, it cost about thirty percent to eighty percent less than the brand name drug. Generic drugs mean more cost-savings to the consumers. Its use can save patients and even insurance companies thousands of dollars without compromising the quality of health care. According to the U.S. Congressional Budget Office, generic drugs save consumers an estimated $8 to $10 billion a year at retail pharmacies. Even more billions are saved when hospitals use generics.

“It’s amazing that many of our countrymen do not know that what they are really using are generic drugs. For example, the generic medicine paracetamol can be bought as Biogesic, Tempra, Calpol or as generic—only the brands and price differ but they have the same quality,” said Duque.

“If more doctors prescribe generic medicines and more people use them, these will further drive down medicine prices and make medicine more accessible especially for the poor,” Duque added.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/topstories/topstories/view/20090925-226879/More-Filipinos-buying-generic-drugs–DOH

Generic Drugstore is expanding and offering franchise business Philippines

2009-11-11T14:44:00.001-08:00

Many viewers are looking for opportunities for business and the Generic Drugstore seems like an excellent opportunity to make affordable drugs available to all

Generic Drugstore franchise Philippines

Price cuts for 99 medicines Philippines

2009-11-11T14:43:00.001-08:00

PRICES FOR 99 branded medicines are expected to be cut substantially next month as part of moves to implement the Cheaper Medicines Act of 2008.

Price caps will be mandated for five of the essential drugs after voluntary offers by the industry were found compliant only with respect to 16, the Health department said.

A draft executive order (EO) will be submitted by the department on or before Friday and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is expected to sign it before she leaves for Washington next week, Executive Secretary Eduardo R. Ermita said.

Figuring in the 31 medicines covered by the “add-on” list, 99 branded products will have their prices cut on August 15, officials said.

Robert Louie P. So, program manager of the Health department’s National Drug Policy unit, declined to identify the specific drugs.

The 21 essential drugs are: anti-hypertensives amlodipine, telmisartan, irbesartan, clopidogrel, and atorvastatin; antidiabetic gliclazide; antibiotics piperacillin/tazobactam, ciprofloxacin, azithromycin, metronidazole, and co-amoxiclav; and the anticancer medicines bleomycin, carboplatin, cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, cytarabine, doxorubicin, etoposide, mercaptopurine, methotrexate, and mesna.

7/23/09 Business World http://www.bworldonline.com/BW072309/content.php?id=001&src=2

Cheaper drugs may soon be easier to find in the Philippines

2009-11-11T14:42:00.001-08:00

THE Department of Health (DOH) has required all pharmacies nationwide to upload information about the drugs they are selling on the DOH’s National Drug Policy (NDP) website.

“This is to give information for the Secretary of Health about all our drug prices. This can help him determine the maximum retail prices of the drugs,” said Dr. Angelita Salarda, chief of the health regulatory licensing enforcement of the Bureau of Food and Drugs (Bfad) 7.

This new move, said Salarda, is a requirement in the implementation of the Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008. Under this system, pharmacies will be asked to upload the names of drugs they are selling, the quantity, the source of the drugs and their prices.

7/14/09 Cebu Sunstar (click this link to read the newspaper article)

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/cheaper-drugs-may-soon-be-easier-find

Prescription Drugs/Medications in the Philippines Drugstores, Drugs in the Philippines, Generic drugstores Philippines

2009-11-11T14:39:00.000-08:00

How can you can find out which prescription drugs are available in the Philippines and the price of Philippine prescription drugs? The official Philippine Department of Health list is athttp://doh.gov.ph/ndps/EssentialDrugsList.htm This list gives drug names, doses and prices.

The Philippine equivalent of the U.S. PDR drug reference is the MIMS drug manual which is available at the big National Bookstore chain in the Philippines. An online version is available at http://www.mims.com/

You can also check the Mercury Drug web site athttps://www.mercurydrug.com/cgi-bin/product/drugsearch/index.html Basically it gives you the same information at MIMS does but also lets you know whether the drug is available at Mercury, a major pharmacy chain in in the Philippines. It does NOT give prices. You have to e-mail Mercury to get prices.

Prescription drugs is really something of a misnomer when applied to the Philippines. With the exception of opioid pain medications and benzodiazepine family drugs such as Valium, a doctor’s prescription is not generally needed. Just write down the drug name, the dose and the quantity wanted on a slip of paper, take it to the counter of a pharmacy and it will be filled for you, assuming they have the drug in stock — and that it’s available in the Philippines. Some drugs available in the US are not available in the Philippines. Some drugs are available in the Philippines which are not sold in the US. If you do need pain medication, be prepared for a giant hassle. See http://goiloilo.com/philippine-medical-care-pain-management/

Prescription drug costs are generally higher than in the U.S. They are said to be the second highest in Asia after Japan. If you can buy generics, then your drugs in the Philippines may be affordable. By default, the drugstores will sell you the expensive brand-name drug unless you insist on a generic. To read the complete article click here http://goiloilo.com/prescription-drugs-medications-philippines/

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Pfizer sues Unilab over Lipitor drug

2009-11-11T14:38:00.000-08:00

Tags: ator, atorvastin calcium, avamax, lipitor — philippinetech @ 10:49 pm Edit This

Pfizer Philippines said it has filed a patent infringement suit against United Laboratories Inc. (Unilab) after the latter released a generic version of Atorvastatin, whose patent in the country is still held by the foreign pharmaceutical giant.

In a briefing on Friday, Patricia Pascual, Pfizer Inc. public affairs division director, said the company on October 6 filed the case at the Regional Trial Court of Makati.

“We only seek a level playing field and fair competition in the market and we would like due regard for the law and its processes [with] regard to IPR [intellectual property rights] protection in the country,” she said.

Pfizer sells the anti-hypertensive drug under the trade name Lipitor, and its generic name is atorvastatin calcium. Pascual said the patent of Lipitor in the Philippines will expire in 2012.

Unilab recently released its generic version of the medicine under the brand Avamax.

Pascual said Pfizer has also filed a similar case against the manufacturer of Ator tablets, also an Atorvastatin, which were released in the local market even before Avamax.

Unilab earlier filed an invalidation of patent suit against Pfizer before the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IP Philippines).

The case is languishing at the IP Philippines.

Pascual said Lipitor is the most prescribed cholesterol-lowering drug in the country. She said the drug’s price has gone down by about 50 percent following the government’s imposition of the maximum retail drug price (MRDP), but Avamax is still 30-percent cheaper.

Citing the published IMS August 2009 data, Pascual said Unilab’s Therapharma Vidastat—with the generic name simvastatin—topped volume sales that month among anti-hypertensive medicines sold locally with a market share of 21 percent, followed by Lipitor at 19 percent.

She said latest data before the implementation of the MRDP shows that Unilab is the leading pharmaceutical company with a 16.3-percent share of the domestic market, while Pfizer comes in second with a 9.6-percent share.

http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/business/4530-pfizer-sues-unilab-over-lipitor-drug

Philippine Drug Prices Reductions effective August 15 and September 15, 2009

2009-11-11T14:37:00.000-08:00

Although the recent price reductions mandated for five drugs here in the Philippines have been made it is hard to find a source online that indicates exactly what these prices are but I did find a source finally

Also check out the generic pharmarcies here in the Philippines at my blog

http://philippinestuff.wordpress.com/2009/07/05/generic-drugstores-in-the-philippines/

from the Drugstores Association of the Philippines

http://www.dsaph.org/

I am reprinting from their website what they have broken out in clear detail on the prices and dates effective

DATE: AUGUST 10, 2009
TO: ALL DSAP MEMBERS
FROM: NATIONAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
RE: IMPLEMENTATION OF MAXIMUM DRUG RETAIL PRICES FOR SELECTED DRUGS AND MEDICINES

OBJECTIVE:

THIS MEMO AIMS TO PROVIDE GUIDELINES TO DSAP MEMBERS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF MAXIMUM RETAIL PRICE ON SELECTED MEDICINES AS PROVIDED BY EO 821.

BACKGROUND AND FACTS:

* RA 9502 known as “The Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicine Act of 2008” provided that price regulation of medicine can be imposed by the

State.
* The President of the Philippines, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of the Department of Health has the power to impose maximum retail prices

over “any all drugs and medicines” included in the list found in the law.
* The list of drugs that can be subjected to the Maximum Drug Retail Price (MDRP) is determined based on the following premises:

1. condition that address public matters such as leading cause of morbidity and mortality;
2. drugs with high price difference compared to international price;
3. drugs that have few competitors in terms of lack of generic counterparts or lack of market access to the product;
4. drugs where innovator product is still the highest priced product, the most prescribed and/or dispensed inspite existence of cheaper versions.

* On July 27, 2009 President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo issued Executive Order 821 imposing price cuts to five (5) molecules and announcing the price

reduction of the sixteen (16) more drugs done voluntarily by the pharmaceutical companies. Price reduction is at least 50%.

* In addition to the above list, the pharmaceutical companies also committed to reduce by about 10-50% the prices of twenty-two (22) other products.

IMPLEMENTATION GUIDELINES

1. The implementation of MDRP shall commence on August 15, 2009 but sanctions shall be imposed only on September 15, 2009.

2. The MDRP shall be imposed on all retail establishments both public and private. These include drugstores, hospital, hospital pharmacies, health maintenance organization (HMOs), convenience stores, supermarkets and the like.

3. The prescribed MDRP shall serve as the ceiling for the retail price of drugs in the list. Ceiling for the reimbursement at PhilHealth.

4. The list for the mandated MDRP as provided by EO 821 is given below:

ACTIVE INGREDIENT/MOLECULE	DOSAGE STRENGHT AND FORM	MDRP (Php)
ANTI-HYPERTENSIVE
Amlodipine (including its S-isomer and all salt form)	2.5 mg tablet	9.60
	5 mg tablet	22.85
	10 mg tablet	38.50
ANTI-CHOLESTEROL
Atorvastatin	10 mg film-coated tablet	34.45
	20 mg film-coated tablet	39.13
	40 mg film-coated tablet	50.50
	80 mg film-coated tablet	50.63
	Amlodipine besilate 5 mg + Atorvastatin calcium 10 mg tablet	45.75
	Amlodipine besilate 5 mg + Atorvastatin calcium 20 mg tablet	66.25
	Amlodipine besilate 5 mg + Atorvastatin calcium 40 mg tablet	84.42
	Amlodipine besilate 5 mg + Atorvastatin calcium 80 mg tablet	89.99
	Amlodipine besilate 10 mg + Atorvastatin calcium 10 mg tablet	51.13
	Amlodipine besilate10 mg + Atorvastatin calcium 20 mg tablet	73.25
	Amlodipine besilate 10 mg + Atorvastatin calcium 40 mg tablet	91.79
	Amlodipine besilate 10 mg + Atorvastatin calcium 80 mg tablet	91.79
ANTIBIOTIC/ANTIBACTERIAL
Azithromycin and all its Salt Form	250 mg tablet	108.50
	200 mg/5 ml powder for suspension (15 ml)	427.50
	200 mg/5 ml powder for suspension (22.5 ml)	638.00
	500 mg tablet	151.43
	500 mg vial for injection	992.50
	2 g granules	468.00
ANTI-NEOPLASTICS/ ANTI-CANCER
Cytarabine	100 mg/ml ampul/vial(IV/SC)	240.00
	100 mg/ml ampul/vial(IV/SC) (5 ml) or 500 mg vial	900.00
	100 mg/ml ampul/vial(IV/SC) (10 ml) or 1g vial	1800.00
	20 mg/ml (5ml) ampul/vial for injection	1980.00
Doxorubicin and all its Salt Form	10 mg powder vial for injection	1465.75
	50 mg powder vial for injection	2265.74

5. The list under Voluntary Price Reduction scheme as provided by Resolution 2009-001 of the Advisory Council for Price Regulation is as noted in chart at end of this blog

6. Price differentials that shall result from this price reduction shall be shouldered by the corresponding manufacturer, trader or importer.

7. The price differential s shall be reimbursed or rebated to the drugstores by the manufacturers, traders or importers in the manner and procedures they deem appropriate and practical. (Attached herewith is the guidelines issued by Metro Drug Incorporated).

8. Violation of this imposition shall be dealt with penalties as mandated by the IRR of the Cheaper Medicine Bill. Penalties for violation of the MDRP shall be no less than Fifty-thousand pesos (P50,000.00) but not more than five million pesos (P5,000,000.00).

9. The list of medicine subject to MDRP shall be reviewed after three (3) to six (6) months by the DOH and as may be recommended.
DSAP ADVISORY

1. Make inventory of the products found on the list. Try to find their appropriate references such as delivery receipts and invoices.

2. Contact your suppliers and know them their respective reimbursement procedures.

3. If you are sourcing your products from wholesalers, consult with them to find out how they can help you with the reimbursement.

ACTIVE INGREDIENT/MOLECULE	DOSAGE STRENGTH AND FORM	COMPANY	OLD RETAIL PRICE	GOVERNMENT-MEDIATED ACCESS PRICE
ANTI-HYPERTENSIVE
Telmisartan	40 mg tablet	Boehringer	51.50	25.7
	Telmisartan 40 mg + Hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg tablet	Boehringer	50.00	25.00
	80 mg tablet	Boehringer	89.00	44.50
	Telmisartan 80 mg + Hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg tablet	Boehringer	89.00	44.50
Irbesartan	150 mg tablet	Sanofi-Aventis via Winthrop	48.76	24.38
	Irbesartan 150 mg + Hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg tablet	Sanofi-Aventis via Winthrop	50.26	25.13
	300 mg tablet	Sanofi-Aventis via Winthrop	80.00	40.00
	Irbesartan 300 mg + Hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg tablet	Sanofi-Aventis via Winthrop	83.00	41.50
ANTI-THROMBOTIC
Clopidogrel	75 mg film-coated tablet	Sanofi – Aventis	123.50	61.75
ANTI-DIABETIC/ANTIHYPOGLYCEMIC
Gliclazide	30 mg Modified Release Tablet	Servier	15.00	7.50
	80 mg tablet	Servier	15.00	7.50
ANTIBIOTIC / ANTIBACTERIAL
Piperacillin +Tazobactam and all its Salt form	Piperacillin 2 g + Tazobactam 250 mg vial	Wyeth	2175.46	730.20
	4 g + Tazobactam 500 mg vial	Wyeth	4614.00	1270.06
Ciprofloxacin and all its Salt form	500 mg tablet	Bayer	83.83	41.91
	500 mg tablet (Extended Release)	Bayer	99.23	49.62
	1 g tablet	Bayer	145.10	72.55
	250 mg tablet	Bayer	65.13	32.57
	2mg/ml (100 ml) for injection	Bayer	1884.17	942.00
	2 mg/ml (50 ml) or 100 mg IV infusion (50 ml)	Bayer	1440.87	720.43
	400 mg (20 ml) for injection	Bayer	3207.17	1603.59
Metronidazole and all its Salt form	125mg/5 ml (60 ml) suspension	Sanofi-Aventis	131.00	65.50
	500 mg tablet	Sanofi-Aventis via Winthrop	23.50	11.75
	500 mg (100 ml) IV infusion	Sanofi-Aventis	379.50	189.75
Co-Amoxiclav (Amoxicillin + Clavulanic acid)	625 mg tablet	GSK	97.75	48.90
	375 mg tablet	GSK	79.50	39.75
	1 g tablet	GSK	142.25	71.15
	600 mg vial for injection	GSK	687.50	343.75
	1.2 g vial for injection	GSK	1156.75	578.40
	Amoxicillin 200 mg + Clavulanic Acid 28.5 mg/5ml (70 ml) suspension	GSK	555.50	277.75
	Amoxicillin 125 mg + Clavulanic Acid 31.25 mg/5ml (60 ml) suspension	GSK	378.00	189.00
	Amoxicillin 250 mg + Clavulanic Acid 62.5 mg/5ml (60 ml) suspension	GSK	648.50	324.25
	Amoxicillin 400 mg + Clavulanic Acid 57 mg/5ml (70 ml) suspension	GSK	940.50	470.25
	Amoxicillin 400 mg + Clavulanic Acid 57 mg/5ml (35 ml) suspension	GSK	523.75	261.90
ANTI-NEOPLASTIC
ANTI-CANCER
Bleomycin and all its Salt form	15 mg vial/ampul for injection	Bristol-Meyer Squibb via Zuellig	9750.00	3520.00
Carboplatin	10 mg/ml (15 ml) vial or 150 mg for injection	Bristol-Meyer Squibb via Zuellig	3610.00	1805.00
Cisplatin	50 mg powder vial for injection	Bristol-Meyer Squibb via Zuellig	2804.00	1125.00
Cyclophosphamide	50 mg tablet	Bristol-Meyer Squibb via Zuellig	33.50	17.50
	200 mg vial for injection	Baxter	698.95	175.00
	500 mg vial for injection	Bristol-Meyer Squibb via Zuellig	649.00	324.50
	1 g or 1000 mg vial for injection	Qualimed	1155.00 (most expensive)	577.50
Etoposide (No innovator locally)	100 mg tablet	Qualimed	1130.00 (most expensive in the market)	565.00
Mercaptopurine	50 mg tablet	GSK	79.00	39.50
Methotrexate sodium (No innovator locally)	2.5 mg tablet	Qualimed	23.00 (most expensive brand)	11.00
	50 mg/ 2 ml vial for injection	Qualimed	612.00 (most expensive brand)	306.00
Mesna	400 mg ampul for injection	Baxter	369.00	166.67

JOSEPHINE P. INOCENCIO

National President

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