One of the current challenges in the pharmaceutical industry is the role of generic drugs. This January, several provinces and territories have joined together to put their combined weight to play when it comes to negotiating on generic drug pricing. Generics drugs are an important part of pharmaceutical research, manufacturing and sales. A generic drug is a non-branded version of a medication whose effects are considered comparable to the branded version. They include anything from store brand aspirin to prescription-only pain killers. Generics are cheaper than non-generic drugs and they usually only differ in small matters like flavouring. No matter.. READ MORE »
This week, we’ll look at two big conferences that may be affecting the future policy for everything from pharmaceutical research and development funding to drug sales regulations. BIO, a large, international conference, and the Quebec-based Assises nationales sur la recherche et l’innovation. As of today, delegates from the Ontario government are meeting at the 2013 BIO conference in Chicago. An annual event spanning the participation of 65 countries, BIO is big news for anyone working or studying to be part of pharmaceutical manufacturing and research. It’s a place where pharmaceutical and medical research-boosting strategy is discussed; business and government connect;.. READ MORE »
According to the 2011 study by the CACDS (Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores), 42% of pharmacies in Canada offer “expanded services”. Broadly speaking, this means that pharmacies within the community offer other healthcare services in addition to dispensing prescriptions. This might be anything from weight management assistance to services for patients with depression and chronic illnesses, or it might even include specialty services like home visits or geriatric care. Among the most popular expanded services are smoking cessation assistance, diabetes maintenance and medication management. Expanded services are more common in pharmacies located in urban areas than in rural areas.. READ MORE »
Over the past few years, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) has looked into ways to increase clinical research in Canada and help bring new medical solutions to patients quickly. This means working with public and private industries and both federal and provincial levels of government. Everyone is included in the decision-making process, from pharmacists and patients to research companies and regulatory bodies. Rx&D, a leading association of pharmaceutical research and development companies, is one of the sources for funding in Canada. They spend over a $1 Billion in research and development dollars annually, as part of their commitment.. READ MORE »
We’ve talked a lot about issues of interest to people in the pharmaceutical industry, but at AAPS, a commitment to quality control and consumer safety doesn’t stop with drugs and medical manufacturing. We’re also interested in using our knowledge for food safety certification for commercial food handlers of all kinds, and for teaching the BRC food safety standards to food manufacturers. In Ontario, food handling is regulated by laws like the Food Safety and Quality Act of 2001 (last amended in 2009). The highlights of the act include the requirement, alongside regulation 562, that food handlers of all kind have.. READ MORE »
