Posted by Michael Wonder on 26 Feb 2018
NHS could claw back £502m if Lyrica ruling upheld, study finds
26 February 2018 - The NHS could reclaim up to £502 million in excess prescribing costs relating to Pfizer’s pregabalin if the drug giant’s last effort to uphold the drug’s legal protection is unsuccessful, a study has found.
Pfizer’s original patent for pregabalin (sold as Lyrica) as a treatment for epilepsy expired in 2014, paving the way for the launch of cheaper generic formulations for the condition and generalised anxiety disorder.
However, the drug giant subsequently secured a second-use patent protecting pregabalin as a treatment for pain until July 2017.
