Pharma companies tweak compositions of FDC drugs, but retain brand names
NEW DELHI: What’s in a name? A lot, according to pharmaceutical companies, many of whom have already launched or are gearing up to introduce new fixed dose combinations (FDCs) by tweaking the compositions but retaining the same brand name as the original product.
For example, in 2016, when popular cough syrup Corex was banned, Pfizer Ltd, the Indian subsidiary of US-based drug maker Pfizer Inc., was quick to discontinue the cough syrup Corex in its then form, changed the composition but decided to retain the brand name for its future respiratory products. The company decided to stop making the Corex cough syrup formulation, a combination of codeine phosphate 10 mg and chlorpheniramine maleate 4mg, changed the formulation and extended the same brand name. The new formulation is now called Corex DX (Chlorpheniramine + Dextromethorphan + Menthol).
Likewise, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd’s pain relief formulation called Vorth TP earlier contained tapentadol and paracetamol. It has now been tweaked to include tramadol and paracetamol. The brand name, however, remains unchanged.
Experts said companies prefer to continue popular brand names for new products containing different ingredients as it becomes easier to market them.
“The companies want to retain the brand name as they spend a lot of money in building a name. As long as it is for the same indication by virtue of reformulation to make it a rational combination, the companies prefer to use the same name,” said DG Shah, secretary general of Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance, which represents large number of domestic drug makers. Shah said extending the brand names to new products also make it easier for doctors and chemists to remember while dispensing or prescribing the medicines.
The Union health ministry on September 12, banned about 328 FDCs after an expert panel found these FDCs “irrational”, citing safety issues and lack of therapeutic justification, recommended the ban. The ban on FDCs included painkillers, antidiabetic, respiratory and gastrointestinal medicines.