The challenge for drug shortage: lessons learned from the quality issues of Japanese generic drug companies

Author byline as per print journal: Takanao Hashimoto1, PhD; Akihiko Ozaki2, MD, PhD; Hiroaki Saito3, MD; Erika Yamashita4, Tetsuya Tanimoto5, MD; Mihajlo Jakovljevic6,7,8, MD, PhD Abstract: This paper examines the repercussions of recent quality and regulatory crises in Japan’s generic pharmaceutical sector, focusing on incidents involving Sawai Group Holdings (Sawai GHD) and other manufacturers. It […]


Reasons for patients’ generic drug switching at the pharmacy counter: a pilot study

Author byline as per print journal: Pieter J Glerum1,2, MSc; Mert Hayta1,3, PharmD, MSc; David M Burger4, PharmD, PhD; Cees Neef5, PharmD, PhD; Marcel L Bouvy3, PharmD, PhD; Marc Maliepaard1,6, PhD Background: Drug switching describes switching between drug products with the same active substance. Drug switching occurs commonly in the Netherlands and mostly between generic drug […]


It is time to change US trade policy to foster access to medicines

Abstract: While Americans are deeply concerned about drug prices, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) continues to negotiate agreements like the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) that put at risk the sustainability of the generics industry and undermine the development of biosimilars that play a critical role in access to medicines. It is time to restore […]


Analysis of Drug Master Files registered in Japan: aiming for a stable supply of active pharmaceutical ingredients

Introduction/Study objectives: A stable supply of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) is indispensable for a stable supply of finished pharmaceutical products (FPPs). API manufacturers generally register API information as a Drug Master File (DMF) directly to the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) in Japan. Because DMFs require appropriate management by their registrants, it is important […]


Pharmacy chain drives choice among manufacturers of generic drugs in the US Medicare population

Author byline as per print journal: Steven Kozlowski1, MD; Ellen Tworkoski2, MS, MPhil; Carmen Dekmezian2, MS; Yanchang Zhang2, MPH; Natasha Flowers2, BA; Alvin So3, MS; Andreas M Schick3, PhD; Michael Wernecke2, BA; Thomas MaCurdy2,4, PhD; Jeffrey A Kelman5, MD, MMSc Background: Drug pricing and availability are key concerns for reducing healthcare costs and meeting patient […]


Reference pricing systems in Europe: characteristics and consequences

Author byline as per print journal: Pieter Dylst, PharmD; Professor Steven Simoens, MSc, PhD; Professor Arnold G Vulto, PharmD, PhD Introduction: A reference pricing system is a system that establishes a common reimbursement level or reference price for a group of interchangeable medicines, i.e. the reference group. This article provides an overview of the different characteristics of the different […]


A review of patient perspectives on generics substitution: what are the challenges for optimal drug use

Author byline as per print journal: Helle Håkonsen, MScPharm, PhD; Else-Lydia Toverud, MScPharm, PhD Introduction: With a few exceptions, generic drug use has been promoted in western countries by allowing pharmacists to substitute drugs defined as therapeutically equivalent generics. The aim of this literature review is to summarise the research on the patients’ perspectives of generics substitution […]