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European Union says drug makers preventing generic drug creation
European Union says drug makers preventing generic drug creation
By Todd A. Heywood 12/1/08 8:16 AM
The New York Times reports that the European Union has accused drug makers of adding billions of dollars to health care costs by blocking the creation of generic drugs.
In the Times story, from Friday, an EU commissioner competition commissioner, Neelie Kroes, is quoted as saying the drug companies are blocking the creation of generics by creating patents, in one case 1,300 patents for one drug, or by suing generic drug makers, forcing the production of less costly generic drugs into a netherworld of legal battles, and preventing the generic medications from reaching the market for years.
Nearly a year ago EU agents raided the headquarters of some of the world’s leading drug companies, including GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, and Sanofi-Aventis, looking for documents that showed the companies were interfering with the marketing and development of generic medications.
On Friday, the EU published some of the documents from those raids on their website. The preliminary report is 426 pages and is available here. The New York Times pulled out these quotes from documents, which were not attributed to any one person or company:
“I suppose we have all had conversations around ‘how we can block generic manufacturers,’ ” one document stated. “Don’t play games in patenting new salt forms too late, the generics manufacturers are starting earlier and earlier,” the document stated, apparently referring to pharmaceutical ingredients.
Another document said, “We identify options to obtain or acquire patents for the sole purpose of limiting the freedom of operation of our competitors.”
In a report on EurActiv.com, the drug companies are claiming the report is not accurate.
However, pharma industry federation EFPIA immediately shot back, ridiculing the Commission’s “very selective use of facts” and claiming that the report “focused on the wrong issues”.
The findings may impact U.S. national policy on health care and research and development of pharmaceuticals.
By Todd A. Heywood 12/1/08 8:16 AM
The New York Times reports that the European Union has accused drug makers of adding billions of dollars to health care costs by blocking the creation of generic drugs.
In the Times story, from Friday, an EU commissioner competition commissioner, Neelie Kroes, is quoted as saying the drug companies are blocking the creation of generics by creating patents, in one case 1,300 patents for one drug, or by suing generic drug makers, forcing the production of less costly generic drugs into a netherworld of legal battles, and preventing the generic medications from reaching the market for years.
Nearly a year ago EU agents raided the headquarters of some of the world’s leading drug companies, including GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, and Sanofi-Aventis, looking for documents that showed the companies were interfering with the marketing and development of generic medications.
On Friday, the EU published some of the documents from those raids on their website. The preliminary report is 426 pages and is available here. The New York Times pulled out these quotes from documents, which were not attributed to any one person or company:
“I suppose we have all had conversations around ‘how we can block generic manufacturers,’ ” one document stated. “Don’t play games in patenting new salt forms too late, the generics manufacturers are starting earlier and earlier,” the document stated, apparently referring to pharmaceutical ingredients.
Another document said, “We identify options to obtain or acquire patents for the sole purpose of limiting the freedom of operation of our competitors.”
In a report on EurActiv.com, the drug companies are claiming the report is not accurate.
However, pharma industry federation EFPIA immediately shot back, ridiculing the Commission’s “very selective use of facts” and claiming that the report “focused on the wrong issues”.
The findings may impact U.S. national policy on health care and research and development of pharmaceuticals.
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