Nexium or Lipitor? Our worst fears were realized today with the announcement that Ranbaxy, an Indian generic pharmaceutical firm was busted for cleaning records and using fraud as a competitive advantage to build their business. In plain English, Ranbaxy made $600 million dollars in the first 6 months after the Lipitor patent ran out and Ranbaxy began producing the generic version. We are used to a comments like this and so we wouldn’t think to think twice about generic drugs based on this information.
I raised a separate issue in a post here on BlogHer almost 2 years ago when Lipitor went off patent. In December of 2011 Pfizer, the manufacturer of Lipitor, dropped the price of the now generic pill from $150 a month to about $4.00 a month because they were about to start competing with the other generic producers like Ranbaxy. Interestingly, Lipitor was trying to save itself by enticing users to use its name brand over any generic version. My position was there was no reason for us to care about this brand name generic vs generic debate because all generics are equal. But as it turns out, the issues are much more life and death than that for we consumers.
Now we learn that indeed massive pharma fraud has been determined against Ranbaxy’s generic version of lipitor. Yesterday they were found guilty of 7 felonies and fined 500 million dollars. But that truth came to light only because an insider told. Big fines are all well and good but that does not help those who were treated with bad versions of Ranbaxy generic drugs who were under the impression they were taking FDA approved generic versions. Fines simply do not seem like an adequate punishment for this behavior.
If you have generic cancer drug and the cancer progresses, shouldn’t someone be held responsible. The drugs did not work in the way they were intended and the public’s trust was broken. I don’t even want to waste my air on repeating the problems found at the Ranbaxy facility. in India. There are stories of broken glass particles in the generic lipitor. But worse than that, Nexium another huge blockbuster is still being made in India at one of their facilities. Last year it was the highest selling drug..
What do you think about this?
Heather H says
This is so scary! This is why I turn to natural remedies before popping a pill!
Patricia A Patton says
Natural is always best but should a time come when you have to move to industrial, these are things to think about. Thanks for sharing.
MELISASource says
Definitely much to consider here. My family has a whole lot of medications that are taken for a variety of things, so I will take this to heart for sure! Thanks for sharing!
Patricia A Patton says
Yes Makeba it really is more than a notion. Vigilance is required. I used to have an interest in generic drug companies as a small investor. Now I am concerned for my life for as you say, many friends take a variety of medication. Most of them have no idea what it really is. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Walker Thornton says
All over the US, as well as India, we’ve had stories of drugs that have been contaminated—mostly compounding drugs. The drug business is highly profitable, corrupt and the FDA isn’t big enough to effectively regulate anymore. It doesn’t matter where you shop and it’s out of the hands of our doctors too. J&J is paying 2.2 billion right now for false marketing. Hospira continues to produce faulty products. Those people who rely on medications should rightly be concerned!!
Kim Jorgensen Gane says
I’m pretty holistic and don’t use prescription drugs, but that’s because I already have a healthy distrust for Big Pharma, generic or not. The industry simply isn’t trustworthy, and together with Big Food and Big Chemical, their greed is ruining the health of our nation.
Patricia A Patton says
Well I try not to use prescription or OTC. I guess you can tell I share your concerns.
Sabrina says
Like many, I’ve always been told the genetic brand is as good as the real thing. If this is happening with the bigger names, makes me wonder about CVS, Walgreen and Walmart brands.
Patricia A Patton says
Well CVS, Walgreen and Walmart brands are generic. Ever wondered why the pills sometimes look different from month to month. Because different companies. It’s scary. Thanks for your comment.