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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Elizabeth on March 12, 2002, at 7:33:48
Hi. Not sure if this has been posted already, but if it hasn't I thought it might interest some people to know that Wellbutrin immediate-release is now available in generics (as are Prozac and Buspar). Not sure how long this has been. But anyway, does anyone know of other brand name drugs whose patents will be expiring soon (and if so, when is the patent expected to expire)?
Also, the only psychotropic meds that have TV commercials running at present (that I'm aware of) are Zoloft, Paxil, and Ambien. (Sorry, I just find these ads to be hilarious.) I think Buspar might have and Prozac did too until they went off patent. I guess that Prozac lives on as "Sarafem," but that's kind of silly. The Paxil-for-GAD and Zoloft-for-depression ones are the ones I've been seeing much lately. Nothing yet for Effexor or Remeron. Anyone seen any that I've missed? :-)
-elizabeth
Posted by Bill L on March 12, 2002, at 8:51:28
In reply to pharmaceutical news flash, posted by Elizabeth on March 12, 2002, at 7:33:48
I've seen more Ambien commercials than any of the others. I also have never seen a commercial for Effexor or Remeron. Maybe that's because they are usually second line drugs which would almost always be recommended by a doctor who as already tried an SSRI first on the patient.
Posted by andyboy on March 12, 2002, at 9:13:56
In reply to Re: pharmaceutical news flash, posted by Bill L on March 12, 2002, at 8:51:28
Its been a few weeks, but when I was out of work I used to always see Wellbutrin commercials-and the big push was "A decreased likelihood of sexual side effects".
These prescription drug commercials are something else. The first 15 seconds is a regular commercial and the next 15 is the warnings. McDonalds should do this in their commercials!
Posted by fachad on March 12, 2002, at 9:15:09
In reply to pharmaceutical news flash, posted by Elizabeth on March 12, 2002, at 7:33:48
Woohoo! I had also recently discovered that Wellbutrin was available as generic.
I was hoping you or someone else could tell us a way to find out when drug patents would expire.
There are so many things that happen when a patent is about to expire.
First, you get a wave of SDNPs (Same-Drug, New Patent) based on new indications, like Sarafem, Zyban, etc.
Then, you get a much-needed wave of SDNPs based on long acting delivery systems. Examples include Prozac Weekly, Wellbutrin SR, Concerta, Metadate.
I am personally holding a bottle of Dom in reserve, and will pop the cork and celebrate (as I'm sure you will too) when Ambien SR comes out! That's going to be the best thing since sliced bread. (Temazepam still sucks.)
And of course a huge cost savings for us consumers.
And an end to new research studies for that particular compound. No more free sample packs, or drug logo stamped post-it notes, popcorn, and paperweights, either.
Seriously, though, I've been trying to determine how to find out when the patents are up. It would strongly influence my choice of meds in many cases if I knew a patent was about to expire.
> Hi. Not sure if this has been posted already, but if it hasn't I thought it might interest some people to know that Wellbutrin immediate-release is now available in generics (as are Prozac and Buspar). Not sure how long this has been. But anyway, does anyone know of other brand name drugs whose patents will be expiring soon (and if so, when is the patent expected to expire)?
>
> Also, the only psychotropic meds that have TV commercials running at present (that I'm aware of) are Zoloft, Paxil, and Ambien. (Sorry, I just find these ads to be hilarious.) I think Buspar might have and Prozac did too until they went off patent. I guess that Prozac lives on as "Sarafem," but that's kind of silly. The Paxil-for-GAD and Zoloft-for-depression ones are the ones I've been seeing much lately. Nothing yet for Effexor or Remeron. Anyone seen any that I've missed? :-)
>
> -elizabeth
Posted by Cecilia on March 13, 2002, at 1:50:26
In reply to Re: pharmaceutical news flash - expired patents » Elizabeth, posted by fachad on March 12, 2002, at 9:15:09
It`s not a psychotropic drug, but the drug commercial that always strikes me as most absurd is the one with the grandfather who can`t help his grandson move to a big boy bed until he goes on epoetin. You would think anyone getting chemotherapy would already have a doctor monitoring his meds pretty closely and not have to go to the doctor and tell him what he needs. (also, they conveniently leave out of the commercial the fact that this drug is only given by injection.) All the drug ads are pretty hilarious, but they also make me mad, all that money spent on advertising instead of research. Cecilia
Posted by Cecilia on March 13, 2002, at 1:59:12
In reply to Re: pharmaceutical news flash - expired patents » Elizabeth, posted by fachad on March 12, 2002, at 9:15:09
It`s not a psychotropic drug, but the drug commercial that always strikes me as most absurd is the one with the grandfather who can`t help his grandson move to a big boy bed until he goes on epoetin. You would think anyone getting chemotherapy would already have a doctor monitoring his meds pretty closely and not have to go to the doctor and tell him what he needs. (also, they conveniently leave out of the commercial the fact that this drug is only given by injection.) All the drug ads are pretty hilarious, but they also make me mad, all that money spent on advertising instead of research. Cecilia
Posted by Cecilia on March 13, 2002, at 2:00:04
In reply to Re: pharmaceutical news flash - expired patents » Elizabeth, posted by fachad on March 12, 2002, at 9:15:09
It`s not a psychotropic drug, but the drug commercial that always strikes me as most absurd is the one with the grandfather who can`t help his grandson move to a big boy bed until he goes on epoetin. You would think anyone getting chemotherapy would already have a doctor monitoring his meds pretty closely and not have to go to the doctor and tell him what he needs. (also, they conveniently leave out of the commercial the fact that this drug is only given by injection.) All the drug ads are pretty hilarious, but they also make me mad, all that money spent on advertising instead of research. Cecilia
Posted by Cecilia on March 13, 2002, at 2:06:28
In reply to Re: pharmaceutical news flash - expired patents » Elizabeth, posted by fachad on March 12, 2002, at 9:15:09
It`s not a psychotropic drug, but the drug commercial that always strikes me as most absurd is the one with the grandfather who can`t help his grandson move to a big boy bed until he goes on epoetin. You would think anyone getting chemotherapy would already have a doctor monitoring his meds pretty closely and not have to go to the doctor and tell him what he needs. (also, they conveniently leave out of the commercial the fact that this drug is only given by injection.) All the drug ads are pretty hilarious, but they also make me mad, all that money spent on advertising instead of research. Cecilia
Posted by johnX2 on March 13, 2002, at 4:13:36
In reply to Re: pharmaceutical news flash - expired patents » Elizabeth, posted by fachad on March 12, 2002, at 9:15:09
> Seriously, though, I've been trying to determine how to find out when the patents are up. It would strongly influence my choice of meds in many cases if I knew a patent was about to expire.
>If you ask the investors relations department
at the pharmaceutical company, they should tell
you (just say you are thinking about buying there
stock because you love "xxx" (something they are
doing that you don't give a rat's ass about), but are worried about when "zzz" (drug of interest) goes generic).Also, I have a copy of a book called the "Merck Index". This is a reference book of almost every known chemical on the planet. You can find it at the barnes and noble. The latest version can be purchased on CD. You can find a chemical/pharmaceutical and it will tell you a concise history of all it's properties. It usually lists the patent numbers that were relavent to the compound. You can then go to www.uspto.gov and actually look at the patent if you want to see the details of it.
Here is an example from Zoloft (sertraline).
Looking at the Merk index.
US Patent 4,536,518 (1981,1985 to pfizer).Here is a link to the patent (tells a
chemist how to make the medicine):(hope this pasted, you can punch in the patent
number in their search page too).Just some thoughts.
-John
Posted by fachad on March 13, 2002, at 10:53:32
In reply to Re: pharmaceutical news flash, posted by andyboy on March 12, 2002, at 9:13:56
>The first 15 seconds is a regular commercial and the next 15 is the warnings.
This really cracks me up. The ad is all like "take WonderDrug and your life will be so much better". In the background there are fields of green grass, sunshine, and laughing children.
Then a fast speaking, monotone, warning blurb.
"WonderDrug has been known to cause problems such as heart attacks, stroke, kidney and liver failure. People with any health problems at all should ask their doctor before taking WonderDrug. WonderDrug has been known to cause seizures and violent hemorrhaging from every orifice. If you notice blood spewing from any of your orifices while taking WonderDrug, report this to your doctor. Also, there have been reports of spontaneous human combustion of patients taking WonderDrug. Therefore, it is not recommended that you smoke cigarettes or pump your own gas while taking WonderDrug. See package insert for details."
Then it's back to the laughing children, and the warm pleasant voice asks, "The only thing to wonder about, is why you are not taking WonderDrug!"
> Its been a few weeks, but when I was out of work I used to always see Wellbutrin commercials-and the big push was "A decreased likelihood of sexual side effects".
> These prescription drug commercials are something else. The first 15 seconds is a regular commercial and the next 15 is the warnings. McDonalds should do this in their commercials!
Posted by fachad on March 13, 2002, at 11:55:20
In reply to Re: pharmaceutical news flash - expired patents, posted by johnX2 on March 13, 2002, at 4:13:36
Thanks John.
Looks like it's time for another trip to Barnes & Noble.
I've been looking for a way to figure that out for a long time. I really appreciate your response.
>
> > Seriously, though, I've been trying to determine how to find out when the patents are up. It would strongly influence my choice of meds in many cases if I knew a patent was about to expire.
> >
>
> If you ask the investors relations department
> at the pharmaceutical company, they should tell
> you (just say you are thinking about buying there
> stock because you love "xxx" (something they are
> doing that you don't give a rat's ass about), but are worried about when "zzz" (drug of interest) goes generic).
>
> Also, I have a copy of a book called the "Merck Index". This is a reference book of almost every known chemical on the planet. You can find it at the barnes and noble. The latest version can be purchased on CD. You can find a chemical/pharmaceutical and it will tell you a concise history of all it's properties. It usually lists the patent numbers that were relavent to the compound. You can then go to www.uspto.gov and actually look at the patent if you want to see the details of it.
>
> Here is an example from Zoloft (sertraline).
> Looking at the Merk index.
> US Patent 4,536,518 (1981,1985 to pfizer).
>
> Here is a link to the patent (tells a
> chemist how to make the medicine):
>
> (hope this pasted, you can punch in the patent
> number in their search page too).
>
> http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1='4,536,518'.WKU.&OS=PN/4,536,518&RS=PN/4,536,518
>
> Just some thoughts.
>
> -John
Posted by NikkiT2 on March 13, 2002, at 13:03:41
In reply to pharmaceutical news flash, posted by Elizabeth on March 12, 2002, at 7:33:48
So wierd!!! We on;t have any ads for prescription medication over here in the UK!! I always find it hilarious watching the medication averts when I visit the US!!!
We've only just got as for otc thrush remadies!!! *laughing*
Nikki
Posted by medlib on March 14, 2002, at 22:36:06
In reply to Re: pharmaceutical news flash - expired patents, posted by johnX2 on March 13, 2002, at 4:13:36
Hi all--
The easiest way to get patent expiration info on a specific med is from the FDA orange book. You can type "FDA orange book" in Google and follow the first link or use the link below:
http://www.fda.gov/cder/ob/default.htm
Select "Search by proprietary name; type in the trade name, then scroll down the retrieved page to the "patent and exclusivity link". Don't imagine that the date listed has any particular relevance. In the FAQs (link from main page) you can read about some of the tactics drug co.s use to confuse and delay the inevitable. Keep in mind that every would-be generic competitor must file an ANDA (abreviated new drug application) which the FDA "considers" for approx. 6 mos.
The FDA also maintains an approvals list for NDAs and ANDAs, updated daily and one updated weekly.
The average length of time between filing of an NDA and approval letter was l5 months in 2000 for "regular" drugs and 6 months for urgent status drugs (aids,cancer and orphan meds).Not holding my breath---medlib
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