Schumer称：美国卫生和福利部应该调用允许普通Cipro
WASHINGTON (Reuters Health) - A Senator known for his efforts to increase access to generic drugs has urged Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson to invoke a federal law that allows the government to purchase generic copies of drugs that are still under patent.
Charles Schumer, D-NY, believes that in light of the recent spate of anthrax exposures in the US and the threat of future exposures, the government should be able to purchase generic versions of Bayer's Cipro (ciprofloxacin). The antibiotic, which treats anthrax as well as a number of other infections, is patent-protected until December 2003.
, 百拇医药
"It goes without saying that if we increase the number of manufacturers producing ciprofloxacin, we are more likely to have enough on hand, should we need it," Schumer wrote in a letter to Thompson. "Knowing we have a sufficient supply of ciprofloxacin would go a long way towards calming the public about potential shortages, and hopefully dissuade people from buying, stockpiling and taking a drug they currently do not need."
At a news conference in the Capitol on Wednesday, Schumer told reporters that generic manufacturers have already received tentative FDA approval for their versions of Cipro. He said a little-known law, 28 USA Sec. 1498, allows the federal government to purchase products for official use from manufacturers other than the patent holder.
, 百拇医药
Schumer said he has spoken with the CEOs of three generic companies "and they said they could have the drug on the market in 8 to 12 weeks," producing enough to treat a million people per month.
According to the FDA's Web site, tentative approvals for various dosages of ciprofloxacin tablets have been issued to Danbury Pharmaceuticals, Geneva Pharmaceuticals, Genpharm, Mylan, Novopharm and Ranbaxy. Final approval for generics normally would be prevented until the branded drug's patent protection expired.
, 百拇医药
Thompson said over the weekend that public health authorities currently have enough antibiotics to treat more than 2 million people for 60 days, but that the government ideally should have supplies to treat 12 million people.
Bayer has stressed on several occasions that there is currently no shortage of Cipro. The firm has said that it will boost production by 25% beginning in November, but it is unclear how well it could manage a dramatically increased government order.
Schumer noted that purchasing generic ciprofloxacin would save the government money. Thompson is asking Congress for $643 million to add to the nation's antibiotic stockpile. If generic ciprofloxacin were to sell for half the price of Cipro, it would double the amount of product that could be bought, he pointed out., http://www.100md.com
Charles Schumer, D-NY, believes that in light of the recent spate of anthrax exposures in the US and the threat of future exposures, the government should be able to purchase generic versions of Bayer's Cipro (ciprofloxacin). The antibiotic, which treats anthrax as well as a number of other infections, is patent-protected until December 2003.
, 百拇医药
"It goes without saying that if we increase the number of manufacturers producing ciprofloxacin, we are more likely to have enough on hand, should we need it," Schumer wrote in a letter to Thompson. "Knowing we have a sufficient supply of ciprofloxacin would go a long way towards calming the public about potential shortages, and hopefully dissuade people from buying, stockpiling and taking a drug they currently do not need."
At a news conference in the Capitol on Wednesday, Schumer told reporters that generic manufacturers have already received tentative FDA approval for their versions of Cipro. He said a little-known law, 28 USA Sec. 1498, allows the federal government to purchase products for official use from manufacturers other than the patent holder.
, 百拇医药
Schumer said he has spoken with the CEOs of three generic companies "and they said they could have the drug on the market in 8 to 12 weeks," producing enough to treat a million people per month.
According to the FDA's Web site, tentative approvals for various dosages of ciprofloxacin tablets have been issued to Danbury Pharmaceuticals, Geneva Pharmaceuticals, Genpharm, Mylan, Novopharm and Ranbaxy. Final approval for generics normally would be prevented until the branded drug's patent protection expired.
, 百拇医药
Thompson said over the weekend that public health authorities currently have enough antibiotics to treat more than 2 million people for 60 days, but that the government ideally should have supplies to treat 12 million people.
Bayer has stressed on several occasions that there is currently no shortage of Cipro. The firm has said that it will boost production by 25% beginning in November, but it is unclear how well it could manage a dramatically increased government order.
Schumer noted that purchasing generic ciprofloxacin would save the government money. Thompson is asking Congress for $643 million to add to the nation's antibiotic stockpile. If generic ciprofloxacin were to sell for half the price of Cipro, it would double the amount of product that could be bought, he pointed out., http://www.100md.com