Abstract
The Hatch-Waxman Act of 1984 provides pharmaceutical manufacturers with an incentive to introduce reformulations of existing products that are about to lose patent protection, to extend marketing exclusivity and maintain high prices. Antidepressant reformulations are particularly common. To determine whether the use of reformulations confers benefits, we examined who uses them and whether they affect the duration of medication use. We found some evidence of benefit for subgroups of antidepressant users, although benefits varied across reformulations.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / economics*
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Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / therapeutic use
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Depressive Disorder, Major / drug therapy
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Depressive Disorder, Major / economics*
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Drug Compounding
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Drug Costs / legislation & jurisprudence*
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Drug Utilization Review
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Economic Competition
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Humans
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Patents as Topic / legislation & jurisprudence*
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Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / economics*
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Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / therapeutic use
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Treatment Outcome
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United States
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United States Food and Drug Administration / economics
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United States Food and Drug Administration / legislation & jurisprudence
Substances
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Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation
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Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors