Dive Brief:
- "Me-too drugs" often have a unique niche in the market, but because of their similarity to other drugs on the market, draw criticism for redundancy.
- Although critics of the pharmaceutical industry love to attack "me-too" drugs, some advocates are that choice is good for patients and physicians, as no single drug is ideal for every individual.
- Having multiple entrants in a class can have another effect: lowering the ultimate cost of drugs, according to Forbes contributor John LaMattina.
Dive Insight:
Although it's common for critics to attack drug companies over their pricing and marketing strategies, there is value to the development and promotion of these seemingly redundant drugs, as evidenced by examples such as the hepatitis C drug rivals Sovaldi and Viekira Pak. The arrival of the second drug brought the free market into effect and ended the price outcries that had even involved Congress, LaMattina writes. This scenario will likely be repeated with future high-priced, breakthrough drugs as well, such as PCSK-9 inhibitors and cancer treatments.
"The availability of multiple entrants will have a big impact on reducing the costs of these drugs," LaMattina writes. "It could be that the term 'me-too' will be welcomed and not trivialized."