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In the 1990’s, the US, Europe, and Japan manufactured 90 percent of the key ingredients from medicine and vitamins. But now China is the largest global supplier. It seems like a reasonable time to take another look at my Full Measure report from August of 2018 about the fact that we have become increasingly dependent on China for our prescription drugs. Watch the video of the story at the link and read the transcript below. http://fullmeasure.news/news/politics/china-syndrome-08-13-2018 There’s been a quiet but dramatic shift in where we get our prescription drugs. We are increasingly dependent on China. And that could be...

If you’re a layperson, this is the way you probably think of generics: They’re the exact same products in different packaging... In October the Food and Drug Administration took a highly unusual step: It declared that a generic drug it had previously approved — a version of the popular antidepressant Wellbutrin — was not in fact “bioequivalent” to the name-brand version. The FDA withdrew its approval. ...Generic drugs diverge from the originals far more than most of us believe. For starters, it’s not as if the maker of the original pharmaceutical hands over its manufacturing blueprint when its patent runs...

The United States is being flooded with potentially dangerous, toxic imports from China. Between 2006 and 2010, the FDA blocked 9,000 unsafe Chinese products from entering American borders. But the FDA also inspects less than 1% of all goods seeking entry into the US. So how much is getting through? From tainted milk to toxic pet food, the answer is costing American lives. Think twice about made in China.

Although Generic Drugs have been considered a cheap alternative to brand drugs, the recent price increase has triggered a Senate investigation. Several low-price drug manufactures were questioned by members of the Congress in October, about the changes that have happened in the last 18 months, in terms of price. The Congress meeting happened as a result of several price complaints from long patients as well as pharmacists and physicians. Some of the low-cost generic drugs’ prices have risen with up to 8,000%. The huge increase was investigated at a Senate hearing, on Thursday. It was reported that three pharmaceutical companies...

A nationwide drug shortage that's dogging the food and drug administration is hitting home with first responders. For emergency medical technicians, shortages can mean the difference between life and death. Nationwide, anti-seizure drugs including intravenous Valium, Versed, and Ativan are among the dozens of drugs - including cancer treatments - that are in short supply.

Lipitor. Actos. Plavix. These are some of the most-prescribed medicines in the U.S., drugs that are so commonplace they are responsible for a huge chunk of the $300 billion spent on brand-name pharmaceuticals each year. That is about to change as patents on these pricey pills begin to expire, opening the door for generic competition. And that can translate to savings of up to 90 percent, analysts say, making these drugs affordable to more consumers. Americans will see cheaper copies of some of the biggest drug names starting this fall. Out-of-pocket costs of the generic form of Lipitor, a widely...

LET me start by saying I’m a fan of generic drugs. They save Americans billions of dollars each year and give us access to wonderful drugs at affordable prices. I’ve recommended generics in this column many times and use them myself when possible. But there is a gnawing concern among some doctors and researchers that certain prescription generic drugs may not work as well as their brand-name counterparts. The problem is not pervasive, but it’s something consumers should be aware of — especially now that more insurers insist that patients take generic medications when they are available. Let me also......

NEWLY EMPOWERED Democrats' vow to cut health-care costs might spell bad news for the brand-name pharmaceutical industry, but their efforts could provide new momentum for the generic-drug rivals' agenda. Boosting the generics industry may prove to be a politically palatable way to follow up on the party's campaign promises. That's because making more room for generics is meant to cut prices through increased competition -- a solution that is easier to sell as pro-market than other proposals Republicans will portray as precursors to federal price controls. In addition, some legislation that must be renewed in 2007, including laws providing vital...

NEW BALTIMORE, Mich. — For the last three and a half months she was pregnant, Tammie Snyder had a small medical device strapped to her thigh. It pumped a drug called terbutaline through her body to prevent her from going into labor too soon. On Sept. 17, 2002, Snyder gave birth to two healthy girls. Within days, however, her lungs filled with fluid, her heart began to fail and she was told she might need a heart transplant. She recovered, but she's been told she can never have a baby again. Her heart wouldn't stand the strain. Terbutaline is an...