Will Schizophrenia and Bipolar Patients Trust Generic Abilify?
What do you think?
The trend towards generic drugs is nothing new. It does not matter if a drug has billions of dollars in annual sales or not, when they go off patent generics can enter the market. Now the question is whether schizophrenia and bipolar disorder patients will trust generic Abilify or not.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Tuesday that it has approved the first generic versions of Abilify.
Generic aripiprazole is an atypical antipsychotic drug approved to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Alembic Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Hetero Labs Ltd., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd. (NYSE: TEVA) and Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd. have received FDA approval to market generic aripiprazole in multiple strengths and dosage forms.
At one point, some 25% of Otsuka, the Japanese drug group, annual sales. Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE: BMY). Otsuka’s sales partner, generated some $554 million in global sales of Abilify in the first quarter of 2015 alone — with some $508 million being in the U.S. alone. Bristol-Myers Squibb’s 2014 annual report showed that annual Abilify sales were $2.02 billion in 2014, $2.29 billion in 2013, and $2.83 billion in 2012.
What does " generic " mean anyway?
If its less expensive, they are using a less expensive chemical. These meds should be available to all. Its all about making money-at the consumers risk. Who knows what is really in a generic brand anyway. Are they doing the right thing?
The medication prices are SO jacked up! Its like buying a cheaper cereal because you cant afford the good stuff.
I know this is the reality, but ~!@#$%^
It is not a “less expensive chemical.” It has more of a legal meaning than anything. The term “generic” means the molecule is no longer protected under copyright law, and that other manufacturers have the right to make it instead of just the original company (Otsuka in this case).
Generic name, drug: The term “generic name” has several meanings as regards drugs:
The chemical name of a drug.
A term referring to the chemical makeup of a drug rather than to the advertised brand name under which the drug is sold.
A term referring to any drug marketed under its chemical name without advertising.
“Diazepam” is an example of the chemical (generic) name of a sedative. It is marketed by some companies under its generic name and by other companies under brand names such as Valium or Vazepam.
Generic drugs marketed without brand names are less expensive than brand-name drugs even though they are chemically identical to brand-name drugs and meet U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards for safety, purity and effectiveness.
I have been told that the term “generic” means that the drug does contain the original substance, but the additives are different for different manufacturers. And yes, These components MIGHT potentially have a negative effect on a Patient, as for example this concrete generic for Abilify is new on market; it s Long-time working have not yet been properly justified.
Therefore, there are concerns that it might have unexpected effects on someone who is taking it.
Another question, did anyone hear that treating bipolar with antipsychotics might also be harmful?
I was just wondering…how much cheaper will generic Abilify be? I have a co payment of 10% each time I collect my Abilify and hopefully that would stop with the generic Abilify. I also wonder how long it would take for the new drug to be distributed in my country?
I rather go nuts than pay that, what a ■■■■drug that was. These drug companies just keep reinventing the wheel and make billions. It’s like me setting up a company selling bottled water and getting rich.
I’ve been getting the generic one. My meds used to be free now I pay like £8-9 per prescription which is not too bad if I get two month medications in one prescription. I used to get the non-generic form but have just got the generic kind. No difference.
