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FDA Promises More Generics

Commits to reviewing applications faster

By Asta Hostetter, Newser User

Posted Oct 5, 2007 9:19 AM CDT

(Newser) – The FDA approved about a third more generic drugs in fiscal 2007 than the year prior, and pledged yesterday to speed its review process to accommodate yet more. Sales of generics, which average about one-third the cost of their brand-name counterparts, are up 22%—and one advocacy group says the FDA isn't doing enough to cut through the 1,300-drug backlog.

Without any additional funding to speed the review process, the Generic Pharmaceutical Association says, the agency is repeating past initiatives that "have proven to yield little in the way of significant results." Not fair, maintains an FDA official: "We had no anticipation that the number of generic applications would skyrocket as it did" the past few years.

Bottles of prescription medications move along a production line at Medco Health Solutions, Inc.'s Willingboro Dispensing Pharmacy in this Feb. 28, 2006 file photo in Willingboro, N.J. Medco Health Solutions... (Associated Press)

A Walgreens store is shown in this June 25, 2007 file photo in Doral, Fla. Walgreen Co., one of the nation's biggest drugstore chain operators, said Monday, Oct. 1, 2007 its fourth-quarter profit dropped... (Associated Press)

headache pills ((c) tnarik)

Employees are pictured at work after the opening of the pharmacy... (Getty Images (by Event))

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Viagra Gum? Drug Makers Get Busy as Generics Near

Makers of erectile dysfunction drugs try to find new niches

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Johnson & Johnson division under scrutiny for manufacturing practices

FDA: Get Off Smell-Killing Zicam Nasal Spray, Now

Agency received over 130 reports of loss of smell sense

Drug Companies Hide Data From Docs

Edited info could mislead those prescribing meds

New Databases Share Test Results, Prescriptions

Info used to assemble health 'credit reports'

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Commits to reviewing applications faster

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

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[ By Views ]

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Viagra Gum? Drug Makers Get Busy as Generics Near

Makers of erectile dysfunction drugs try to find new niches

FDA Takes Over 3 Tylenol Plants

Johnson & Johnson division under scrutiny for manufacturing practices

FDA: Get Off Smell-Killing Zicam Nasal Spray, Now

Agency received over 130 reports of loss of smell sense

Drug Companies Hide Data From Docs

Edited info could mislead those prescribing meds

New Databases Share Test Results, Prescriptions

Info used to assemble health 'credit reports'

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Site

Newser By Users

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