Don't chase expensive pills!

American researchers report: there is no evidence that branded drugs are any more effective in the treatment of diseases of the cardiovascular system than their cheaper generics.

"These findings contradict the perception of a number of doctors and patients that expensive branded drugs are clinically superior to cheaper analogues," said Dr. Aaron Kesselheim (Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston), who conducted the study.

Kesselheim and his colleagues combined the results of 30 studies conducted since 1984, comparing 9 subclasses of original drugs for the treatment of CVD (beta blockers, diuretics, calcium channel blockers, statins, antiplatelet agents, ace inhibitors, alpha blockers, antiarrhythmic agents and warfarin) with generic analogues. According to these studies, branded drugs have no advantages in terms of the outcome of treatment of patients, scientists reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

"Branded drugs for the treatment of CVD can cost several dollars per pill, whereas generic drugs cost only a few cents,— Kesselheim said. "If a patient is prescribed a generic, he can be confident [in its effectiveness], as well as doctors prescribing generics."

According to Kesselheim, the rising costs of prescription branded drugs are punching a hole in the budget of both patients and public and private health insurers. In 2007, the volume of sales of Rx drugs in the United States exceeded $ 286.5 billion. At the same time, according to the Generic Pharmaceutical Association industry group, generics account for 66% of prescriptions in the United States, but they account for only less than 15% in the cost structure of prescribed drugs.

Natalia Pankratova, "Farmvestnik" based on Reuters materials 

Portal "Eternal youth" www.vechnayamolodost.ru04.12.2008