On the recordJuly 10, 2002
according to these charts, we have not seen a dramatic reduction. But Claritin and Clarinex are a good example. Claritin is going off patent and so the drug company that manufactures it is in the process of converting people from Claritin to Clarinex. According to one published report, the improvement, if you can say the quality or the effects of moving from Claritin to Clarinex, and Claritin will soon be available in generic if they do not get a 30-month extension, which I do not think that they should, but the difference is 2 percent. One of the published reports says there is a 2 percent advantage in taking the Clarinex over Claritin. What the drug companies try to do as they have a drug coming off patent, they try to come out with a new and improved version, which I appreciate, but a 2 percent improvement hardly justifies a $60 a month difference in price.
Source
govinfo.gov
