Canada must have biogenerics, CGPA says, following US move and EU lead

The Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association has called on the  government to follow one of the neighboring USA's new pharmaceutical  policy initiatives. Jim Keon, the CGPA's president said: "President  [Barack] Obama recognizes the importance of providing patients  suffering from cancer, diabetes and other diseases access to affordable  alternatives by implementing an approval pathway for generic biologics."

The USA President has committed funds to ensure the Food and Drug  Administration has the resources to carry out bioequivalent studies on  copy versions of biotechnology drugs that go off patent (see page 14).  Mr Keon called for a similar approach to be adopted in Canada.  "Competition from safe and effective generic biologics would save  consumers, provincial drug plans and private insurers millions of  dollars each year and provide many more patients with access to  lifesaving treatments," he added.