‘Complex Generics’ As Cost Savers

Pharmacy shelves are full of simple generic versions of medications; and patients have grown comfortable using them as a way to save money. Similarly, complex generic drugs offer significant savings to patients. More patients may have the option of using these medications in the future. In fact, complex generics hold the potential to save the U.S. healthcare system $1.3 billion per year.

As the name implies, complex generics are medications based on:

• Complex active ingredients

• A complex formulation

• A complex route of delivery

Manufacturers are increasingly turning to the development of complex generics as a way to deliver more value to patients.

Examples of complex generics would be medications such as epinephrine auto-injectors for anaphylaxis, inhalers for asthma, and medications for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, metastatic breast cancer, or diabetes.

Understandably, there are regulatory hurdles on the way to approval for each complex generic medication. Just last week, the FDA issued 36 new and revised guidances to facilitate generic drug development. Of these, 8 were specific to complex generics.

As each new generic comes to the marketplace, patients will benefit from more choices and opportunities to effectively treat their health condition at a lower price point.

As a specialty pharmacy, BioPlus manages many patients who are already undergoing their treatment plan with the help of complex generics. Of course, even though these are generic medications, they still require specialty attention. In other words, with complex generics: the only thing that is discounted is the price, not the pharmaceutical care!