Sustainable Access Generic And Biosimilar, Priority For Health In Spain

The Association of European Generics and Biosimilars (EGA) and the Spanish Medicines Generic Medicines Association (AESEG) announced recently in Madrid their commitment to expand the access of Spanish patients to generic drugs and biosimilars, emphasizing the importance of introducing measures that increase access to high quality drugs and eliminate market barriers.

The absence of price difference between brands and generic, the negative consequences of drug auctions in Andalusia or the inability to manufacture generic CPS phase (Supplementary Protection Certificate), an increase in industrial investment and creating thousands of jobs in the Spanish pharmaceutical sector, some issues have been discussed.

Today, Spain is the only EU country that requires originator companies to set the same price without patent generic drugs. This policy is detrimental to the long-term ability of the generic drug industry to expand access of patients and provide savings to the Spanish taxpayers because it removes the incentive for doctors to prescribe the pharmacists to dispense and the patients to request generic drugs.

The EGA and AESEG employers have also emphasized the consequences of Andalusian auction system on the supply of drugs (such as unequal access and frequent drug shortages) for patients and pharmacists, it also threatens the viability of Spanish and European manufacturers and It reduces their ability to develop and bring to market new generic drugs.

EGA expected that between 75% and 80% of medicines used in the EU will be generic or biosimilar in 2020, so it makes sense to increase production in Europe rather than in countries outside the EU. The European Commission has just proposed to develop a waiver that would allow CPS manufacturing production and export of generic drugs and biosimilars during that period, thus promoting the production of drugs, creating highly qualified jobs and generate economic growth in those countries where the production of generic drugs and biosimilars is especially relevant, as in the case of Spain.

Jacek Glinka, President of the EGA , said that "we are ready to work with the Spanish authorities in developing a sustainable business generics and biosimilars in Spain, removing market barriers and increasing the cost-effectiveness of therapies, allowing and doctors to treat more patients with high quality medicines. "

Angel Luis Cuerda Rodríguez, Director General of AESEG, stressed that "7 out of 10 generic drugs in Spain are manufactured in our country. Healthy competition in the Spanish generics market will create additional value and employment in Spain. Therefore, the proposal of the European Commission of a waiver manufacturing CPS is also essential to create greater opportunities for manufacturing and jobs in Spain item. We call on the Spanish government to support this measure of job creation in the EU. "

About The EGA (European Generic Medicines Association and Biosimilars)
The EGA represents European sectors of generic drugs, biosimilars and value added, which provide competitive cost medicines to millions of European patients. The companies represented in the EGA provide over 160,000 skilled and high value direct jobs in Europe. Without generics, European taxpayers should have paid 100,000 million euros in 2014. Generic drugs account for over 56% of all drugs dispensed, but only 22% of pharmaceutical expenditure in Europe. The vision of the areas of generic and biosimilar medicines is to provide sustainable access to high quality medicines to all European patients on the basis of 5 major pillars: patients, quality, value, sustainability and partnership. For more information, visit www.egagenerics.com.

About AESEG (Spanish Association of Generic Drugs)
Founded in Barcelona in 1998, AESEG is the employer's generic pharmaceutical industry in Spain, with a 96% sectoral representation. AESEG promotes the knowledge and rational use of generic drugs in our country, with the dual aim of making the Generic Pharmaceutical Equivalent (EFG) represent a mechanism to contain pharmaceutical expenditure at the structural level and at the same time, ensure that it develops a true culture of generic medicine in our country. They may be members of AESEG all those specialty pharmaceutical laboratories or manufacturers of active pharmaceutical ingredients whose principal activity is in the field of generics into the country. AESEG is a member of the European generic drug bosses EGA (European Generic Medicines Association). For more information, visit www.aeseg.es and www.engenerico.com.