LymeNet Flash: Biaxin Patent expires in May...

This is topic Biaxin Patent expires in May... in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by matthewgoss (Member # 3167) on :

"Biaxin, an antibiotic will go off patent in May 2005 and Abbott has been moving patients to a new form of the drug, Biaxin XL. Biaxin XL's IP coverage extends until 2017 according to the Company. Biaxin XL had US sales of $539MM in 2003. It represents 65% of the Biaxin market."
http://www.centientinvestor.com/articles.php?a=read&aid=22

Came across this article while doing research for an investment and thought everyone here might be interested.

The reason I think this is important is that I believe that the macrolide antibiotics (Biaxin, Zithromax, Rulid) are a key component of Lyme treatment as they attack intracellular.

The fact that Biaxin loses patent protection means that other drug manufacturers will start putting generics on the market which will drive prices way down. I know when I was on Zithromax it was very expensive, and a low cost alternative can only benefit those with Lyme Disease.

Biaxin XL is basically the same drug, only it is more like those time release pills that you don't have to take as often. Biaxin XL will still be patented until 2017, but regular Biaxin should have generic on the market in May.

Matt

...editing here to add that someone else mentioned on another thread that the Zithromax patent will also be expiring in May...looked on the net and all sources do say it will expire this year but couldn't find any references saying exactly when.

[This message has been edited by matthewgoss (edited 28 February 2005).]

Posted by James H (Member # 6380) on :

Mathew,

I posted that about the Zithromax today, but it was something I just vaguely remember reading somewhere. I was hoping somebody else was better informed.

I have noticed that generics are available from Asian pharmacies (usually manufactured in India) already. Brave souls can find them online.

Since alot of our drugs companies manufacture there it is likely that some of this is from the same facilities that will supply the US generics once the patents expire. We might see some price relief fairly soon in that case.

Posted by matthewgoss (Member # 3167) on :

Drug companies know when patents expire and they are ready to roll with the generics as soon as they can legally sell them. When I was looking for more info on Zithromax I read that drug companies expect to lose 60% to 80% or more of their business in the first 18 months after their patent expires. That can only mean that people are going with a less expensive generic.

Another interesting tidbit is that Zithromax accounts for 65% of antibiotic sales (based on dollars, not number of pills), underscoring its usefullness AND its expense.

There are lots of ways to get prescription drugs thru "other" channels besides going to your doctor...I would hope that anyone attempting this knows the drugs inside and out before going ahead...drug interactions, allergies, side effects, dosage, etc.

There is a reason it takes 10 years to get a medical license, but then again many doctors say their patients know more about their illness than doctors due to so much medical information being made available on the internet, and the fact that doctors are human beings and just can't know everything.

Matt

Posted by James H (Member # 6380) on :

I was thinking in terms of people just trying to afford the meds prescribed for them.

Good point you bring up. There are probably ALOT of people dealing with this as best they can WITHOUT a Doctor's help, and not by choice.

What a brave new world we live in.