"The variables of Parkinson's disease and the therapeutic approaches are sometimes so differentiated that each patient requires personalized therapy. The problem of generic drugs fits into this context, which in a spending review perspective could represent an apparent saving for the NHS".
This is explained by Gianni Pezzoli, director of the Parkinson Center in Milan and president of the Italian Parkinsonian Association (Aip), anticipating one of the topics that will be discussed on the occasion of the 35th Aip Conference, scheduled in Gravedona and Uniti (Como).
"On these generic drugs, unlike the branded drug, no efficacy studies are carried out - underlines Pezzoli - There is a theoretical bioequivalence with the original drug which can deviate up to 40% from the generic drug.
Furthermore, it should not be underestimated that the majority of patients affected by Parkinson's are elderly people for whom the neurologist takes a long time to develop an individual therapy based on very precise doses to be taken in equally precise times.
So the possible replacement of the current treatment with the generic one could make it even more difficult to follow such a complex therapy without making mistakes".
Lucia Scopelliti – April 15, 2013 – PharmaKronos
