Thursday April 10 / 2008

Thursday April 10 / 200812:10: The Health Roundup with Jay McQueen.


12:13: Rethink Breast Cancer is celebrating excellence in Canadian breast cancer research with the announcement of its 2008 Career Development Award recipients. Today we’ll chat with a past recipient about the kind of progress she’s been able to make in breast cancer research and how the award has made a difference in her career.
Guest: Dr. Cristina Tognon, Senior Research Associate, Department of Molecular Oncology, BC Cancer Agency.


12:20: Our favourite local chiropractors are back in the house.
Guests: Dr. Kathryn Wheatley and Dr. Jim Lamontagne, Regent Health and Chiropractic Centre over on Locke Street.

12:35: Diabetes and foot care go hand in hand. Or, is that foot in foot?
Guest: Dr. Perry Mayer, Mayer Institute for Advanced Diabetic Foot care.

12:45: Rexall Pharmacy segment.
Guest Hilton

Generic Drugs !


A generic drug is a drug in which is produced and distributed without patent protection. The generic drug may still have a patent on the formulation but not on the active ingredient. A generic drug must contain the same active ingredients as the original formulation. In most case’s, it is considered bioequivalent to the brand counterpart with respect to same pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties. Therefore generics are to considered almost identical in dose, strength, route of administration, safety, efficacy and intended use. In most cases generic products are not available until the patent protections afforded to the original developer has expired. When generic products come to market, substantially lower prices for both are usually seen. Drug patents give 20 years of protection, but they are applied before clinical trails begin so the effective life of drug patent tends to be between seven to twelve years. Whether a manufacturer makes the brand name drugs or generic ones, the standards are the same. The ingredients, manufacturing processes and facilities must meet the federal guidelines for Good Manufacturing Practices. As well all drug manufactures must perform a series of tests , both during and after production , to show that very drug batch meets the requirements for that product. Health Canada is responsible for evaluating generic drugs. To fulfill this responsibility, Health Canada looks at the drug’s safety, effectiveness and quality. The current t process for evaluating drug products have been in place in Canada for almost 30 years. This applies to generic and brand name drugs. Health Canada’s commitment to high standards has stayed the same over the years. Canada has one of the highest levels of standards around the world. To draw on experience they work with a panel of scientists, physicians and pharmacists from across Canada, this is only one way to ensure standards remain high.