Abstract
Background: In September 2007', shortages of generic selegiline occurred, forcing patients to either switch to more expensive alternatives or forego treatment. We sought to evaluate prescription trends of generic selegiline and to quantify the economic impact of any resulting drug substitution of more expensive alternatives. Methods: We analyzed proprietary data from IMS Health on monthly prescriptions in the United States for selegiline and potential substitutes from February 2002 through December 2007. Linear regression was used to predict the number of expected prescriptions after August 2007 had a shortage not occurred. The main outcome measures were the changes in prescriptions filled and the economic impact of drug substitution. Results: Prior to the shortage, total prescriptions filled for generic selegiline decreased 42%, and supply consolidated into one company, Apotex Inc., Toronto, Canada, whose market share increased from 41% to 83%. During the first 4 months of the shortage, Apotex Inc. filled 10,500 fewer prescriptions than projected and other selegiline manufacturers filled 7,400 more than projected for a net shortage of 3,100 prescriptions. The number of branded selegiline capsules filled during this period increased by 1,800 above projections, and 1,300 prescriptions for generic selegiline were not refilled or substituted. The societal cost of substituting generic selegiline with branded capsules was $75,000 over the first 4 months of the shortage. Conclusions: Generic drug shortages carry economic and health implications. Given ongoing consolidation in the generics drug industry, these shortages may become more common and may require heightened regulatory scrutiny of the generic drug industry.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 213-217 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Neurology |
| Volume | 73 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 21 2009 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology
Cite this
Selegiline shortage : Causes and costs of a generic drug shortage. / Dorsey, E. R.; Thompson, J. P.; Dayoub, E. J.; George, B.; Saubermann, L. A.; Holloway, R. G.
In: Neurology, Vol. 73, No. 3, 21.07.2009, p. 213-217.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Selegiline shortage
T2 - Causes and costs of a generic drug shortage
AU - Dorsey, E. R.
AU - Thompson, J. P.
AU - Dayoub, E. J.
AU - George, B.
AU - Saubermann, L. A.
AU - Holloway, R. G.
PY - 2009/7/21
Y1 - 2009/7/21
N2 - Background: In September 2007', shortages of generic selegiline occurred, forcing patients to either switch to more expensive alternatives or forego treatment. We sought to evaluate prescription trends of generic selegiline and to quantify the economic impact of any resulting drug substitution of more expensive alternatives. Methods: We analyzed proprietary data from IMS Health on monthly prescriptions in the United States for selegiline and potential substitutes from February 2002 through December 2007. Linear regression was used to predict the number of expected prescriptions after August 2007 had a shortage not occurred. The main outcome measures were the changes in prescriptions filled and the economic impact of drug substitution. Results: Prior to the shortage, total prescriptions filled for generic selegiline decreased 42%, and supply consolidated into one company, Apotex Inc., Toronto, Canada, whose market share increased from 41% to 83%. During the first 4 months of the shortage, Apotex Inc. filled 10,500 fewer prescriptions than projected and other selegiline manufacturers filled 7,400 more than projected for a net shortage of 3,100 prescriptions. The number of branded selegiline capsules filled during this period increased by 1,800 above projections, and 1,300 prescriptions for generic selegiline were not refilled or substituted. The societal cost of substituting generic selegiline with branded capsules was $75,000 over the first 4 months of the shortage. Conclusions: Generic drug shortages carry economic and health implications. Given ongoing consolidation in the generics drug industry, these shortages may become more common and may require heightened regulatory scrutiny of the generic drug industry.
AB - Background: In September 2007', shortages of generic selegiline occurred, forcing patients to either switch to more expensive alternatives or forego treatment. We sought to evaluate prescription trends of generic selegiline and to quantify the economic impact of any resulting drug substitution of more expensive alternatives. Methods: We analyzed proprietary data from IMS Health on monthly prescriptions in the United States for selegiline and potential substitutes from February 2002 through December 2007. Linear regression was used to predict the number of expected prescriptions after August 2007 had a shortage not occurred. The main outcome measures were the changes in prescriptions filled and the economic impact of drug substitution. Results: Prior to the shortage, total prescriptions filled for generic selegiline decreased 42%, and supply consolidated into one company, Apotex Inc., Toronto, Canada, whose market share increased from 41% to 83%. During the first 4 months of the shortage, Apotex Inc. filled 10,500 fewer prescriptions than projected and other selegiline manufacturers filled 7,400 more than projected for a net shortage of 3,100 prescriptions. The number of branded selegiline capsules filled during this period increased by 1,800 above projections, and 1,300 prescriptions for generic selegiline were not refilled or substituted. The societal cost of substituting generic selegiline with branded capsules was $75,000 over the first 4 months of the shortage. Conclusions: Generic drug shortages carry economic and health implications. Given ongoing consolidation in the generics drug industry, these shortages may become more common and may require heightened regulatory scrutiny of the generic drug industry.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=68949196137&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=68949196137&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1212/WNL.0b013e3181ae7b04
DO - 10.1212/WNL.0b013e3181ae7b04
M3 - Article
C2 - 19620609
AN - SCOPUS:68949196137
VL - 73
SP - 213
EP - 217
JO - Neurology
JF - Neurology
SN - 0028-3878
IS - 3
ER -