After a ‘skinny label’ was used to market a generic version of a pricey brand-name medicine, more consumers gained access to the lower-cost copycat drug and saved on out-of-pockets cost, a new study finds.
In this instance, a generic version of the Gleevec cancer drug became available in 2016. But while the product label noted it could be used to treat a form of leukemia known as CML and other cancers, the generic labeling deliberately excluded language saying it could be used to treat uncommon tumors in the gastrointestinal tract, a condition called GIST.
This type of carve out is known as a skinny label, which refers to a move by a generic company that seeks regulatory approval to market its medicine for a specific use, but not other patented uses for which a brand-name drug is prescribed. By doing so, the generic company seeks to avoid lawsuits in which the brand-name drug company could claim patent infringement.
This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers
Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and news alerts.
Already have an account? Log in
About the Author Reprints
To submit a correction request, please visit our Contact Us page.
