Tag: generic drugs

A number of hurdles related to the weakness of the European patent system prevent innovation and competition in the pharmaceutical sector and hinder timely market entry of cheap generic drugs, argues a generic medicine industry report.

France consumes the most medicines per person annually, closely followed by Germany.

An analysis of public generic medicines policy in 11 EU member states argues that boosting the generic medicines market could considerably reduce the costs for EU health services.

A generic medicine is a pharmaceutical product that is no longer protected by a patent and which can be copied by other companies. It may be marketed either under its own brand or as an unbranded product. European governments are increasingly relying on generics to save on healthcare costs and have worked to create a more favourable environment for generic medicines, which are considerably less expensive than brand name drugs.

Poland has become the first new Member State to request a 15-year transition period for the implementation of the data protection provisions of the EU's new pharma law.

On 23 October, the European Parliament in its first reading of the pharmaceutical review proposals, said "yes" to centralised authorisation procedure of new medicines. MEPs rejected direct advertising of pharmaceutical products and supported earlier market access of generic medicines.

On 22 October the Parliament will vote on the Pharma Review package, addressing many aspects, including regulatory data protection, medicines advertising and bureaucratic burden on industry.