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Sunday, January 18, 2004To back that contention, the FDA analyzed price data collected by the medical research company IMS Health. Included were seven drugs whose generic versions are top-selling treatments for chronic disease: the anti-depressant Prozac; blood pressure medicines Lopressor, Prinivil and Vasotec; Xanax for anxiety; Klonopin for seizures; and Glucophage for diabetes. Comparing both brand-name and generic versions in Canada, the U.S. generic versions of all but the diabetes drug proved significantly cheaper, the study concluded. The study measured average price per milligram, not what the patient pays per bottle, which can vary in dose and pill number. Among the findings: • Xanax had the highest disparity. The Canadian brand was about nine times the price, per milligram, of the U.S. generic. Next was Vasotec at five times the price of the U.S. generic. • Canada's generics ranged from fluoxetine, or generic Prozac, at 1.3 times the U.S. price, to alprazolam, or generic Xanax, at four times the U.S. price. One generic, the version of Vasotec called enalapril, is not sold in Canada. • Glucophage was the exception. The U.S. generic cost 39 percent more per milligram than Canada's brand-name version. I guess Canada doesn't bother cutting deals with generic drug companies. Or maybe generic drug companies don't cut deals with Canada. (Probably can't afford to.) You can compare prices across borders at this website. posted by Sydney on 1/18/2004 08:45:00 AM 0 comments 0 Comments: |
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