Generic Avapro

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I worked for Sanofi at that time and it was launched in the Fall of 1999 in LA, followed by Plavix in the Spring of 2000 in Toronto. Diovan, I believe was launched in 1997...
 


















I spoke with a BMS rep recently and he confirmed that Avapro will be generic in March 2012. Certainly, this is not good news for Diovan and market share can only plummet with 2 generic ARBs available. Perhaps that is why rumors (granted they are only rumors) are suggesting layoffs in March. Of course we all know we can expect layoffs...just a question of when.
 












This may also explain why the plan is to stop promoting Diovan soon but continue promoting Exforge into 2012.
Its likely figured that Exforge can hold onto TRX at least until Diovan goes generic but Diovan alone will lose share at a much rapid rate when Avapro goes generic.
 






previous post stating the obvious, next news flash is that Diovan will loose RX numbers when generic Diovan comes out (given the tons of samples over the years, it will probably take a year before generic numbers begin to climb)
 






The reason for Avapro going generic before Diovan is because it's patent was filed first. Even though Diovan was 2nd ARB to market, Avapro's patent was actually filed before Diovan's was. If Avapro goes generic in March, there will likely be a 6 month exclusive production from one manufacturer which will not reduce the price by much for that period of time. Also, many insurance companies will not change formularies without a reduction in price. If it costs as much as a branded drug, it won't make any sense to move patients there. With no samples, no promotion and no (or very little) cost benefit, it will be after the 6 month exclusivity period where you will see greater usage of the product when the cost drops significantly. That will take us right up until the loss of Diovan branded exclusivity for Novartis. Obviously changes will take place well before that date in terms of our structure, but I don't think the Avapro situation will have much say in those decisions.
 






Also, the reason for Exforge remaining in the portfolio has nothing to do with Avapro. It has to do with the patent of the drug. I've heard that Exforge's patent is stronger than Lotrel's was and will not go generic at the same time as Diovan. I think we all assumed that Exforge would go generic the day Diovan did, but from what I am hearing it will not. Therefore, we will keep promoting it. Can't say I think it will do well with a generic Valsartan and a generic Amlodipine available, but it can't hurt to have something to talk about for reps desperate to keep their jobs.
 






One point not yet mentioned is that MC formularies will start to drop Diovan and we will no longer have tier 2 preferred status. While one post is correct about the 6 month higher price for Avapro generic, it is MC that will erode market share for Diovan.
 






Anonymous said:
One point not yet mentioned is that MC formularies will start to drop Diovan and we will no longer have tier 2 preferred status. While one post is correct about the 6 month higher price for Avapro generic, it is MC that will erode market share for Diovan.
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MC is usually set for a certain time period, whether its 6 months or 1 yr. They don't make changes every day. These companies know Diovan will be generic in Sept so for them a few extra months to know the patient will be switched over to generic Diovan will not be worth it
to start switching all those other patients for just 3 or 4 months (people get 90 scripts)
If you see companies dropping Diovan in JAnuary then that is the reason but if not it will probably stay till Sept
 






The promoted products for IC-2 (Jan-March) didnt have Diovan with any incentive weighting, at least the report that I saw. If that is true then it appears Novartis maybe walking away sooner. Weighting of Diovan will be a measurement.
 






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