With the patent on Prilosec expiring, how Astra-Zenica came up with Nexium, which is essentially the same drug.
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That is nothing new. Two other drugs have done the same. Lexapro is the l form of Celexa, Clarinex is the l form of Claritin, and Xopenex is the l form of Albuterol. These ploys are used all the time to extend the patent. I am planning on blogging on the litany of ploys used to extend the patent rather than discover new drugs.
The question is, why do prescribing doctors fall for this, costing their patients and taxpayers billions? That they do explains formulary restrictions. Same stunt right around the corner with modafinil
I am guessing you are going to use this as an example of the life saving drug research that would be hindered by socialized medicine? Give me a break. This is one of many examples of the greedy Pharm. companies who report to no one but their equally greedy stockholders. It is also an example of what would really really happen with no accountability.
“The question is, why do prescribing doctors fall for this”
for one thing, DTC ads, where patients know their cousin’s friend’s mother got the “purple pill” it magically cured her where her idiot doctor’s advice was to use prilosec OTC which didn’t work.
I know in an ideal world one could argue with a patient & try to convince them that a PPI is a PPI, but sometimes that is impractical, especially in the age of “shared decision-making”.
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