2006年VOA标准英语-Cholesterol Drug Patent Expiration Could Mean S

By Mil Arcega
Washington, D.C.
26 June 2006
 
watch Zocor report

The 20-year patent on the cholesterol¹-lowering drug, Zocor, expired this past Friday, opening the door to competition from cheaper, generic² versions of the popular drug.  But some lawmakers are accusing the drug's manufacturer of undercutting the competition. 

--------------

 
Zocor medications
  
Zocor is a big money-maker -- generating sales of about $4.5 billion per year for New Jersey-based drug manufacturer Merck. 

Seventy one-year-old Frank Wolek, who began taking Zocor after suffering a heart attack, spends $125 a month for the life-saving medication.  "It's my most expensive drug that I take."

But after June 23rd, Wolek will pay considerably³ less. "I think it's wonderful,” he says.

And pharmaceutical⁴ analysts⁵ predict prices for Zocor could drop faster than anticipated.  Albert Rauch at the investment firm A.G. Edwards says that is because Merck is trying to keep its customers by selling Zocor for less than generic versions, such as Simvastatin.

"I think they could be very successful at keeping market share by lowering their price," said Rauch.

Some health plans, for example, will start offering their patients Zocor for about $10 a month, compared to the generic equivalent, which costs five times more. But New York Senator Charles Schumer accuses Merck of undermining the generic drug industry and wants the Federal Trade Commission to investigate.

"Not only will it drive the competition out of business,” said the senator, “but they will do it on drug after drug and within a few years we won't have generic drugs anymore."

Ian Spatz   
  
But Merck, which expects to lose as much as $2 billion a year after the patent expires says it is doing nothing wrong.  Ian Spatz is Merck's vice⁶ president for Public Policy. "What it is, is an attempt to compete and that is what we are doing.  It is a marketplace change and we were the only company selling Zocor until Friday -- on Friday, there are three and we need to compete."

Dr. Steve Nissen, the lead cardiologist on a study of the effectiveness of drugs for combating heart disease says the patent expiration⁷ on Zocor could help a lot of patients.

"That has huge implications because, of the 36 million Americans who are eligible⁸ for cholesterol-lowering drugs, only about half of them are taking the drugs, and one of the reasons is cost," said Dr. Nissen.

Using generic drugs can mean big savings⁹.  According to the latest Consumer Reports, people who need medicine to lower their cholesterol can save up to $1800 a year by switching to generic drugs.  Merck wants to make sure its customers don't have to

1 cholesterol   

n.（U）胆固醇

参考例句：

• There is cholesterol in the cell of body.人体细胞里有胆固醇。
• They are determining the serum-protein and cholesterol levels.他们正在测定血清蛋白和胆固醇的浓度。

2 generic   

adj.一般的，普通的，共有的

参考例句：

• I usually buy generic clothes instead of name brands.我通常买普通的衣服，不买名牌。
• The generic woman appears to have an extraordinary faculty for swallowing the individual.一般妇女在婚后似乎有特别突出的抑制个性的能力。

3 considerably   

adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上

参考例句：

• The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
• The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。

4 pharmaceutical   

adj.药学的，药物的；药用的，药剂师的

参考例句：

• She has donated money to establish a pharmaceutical laboratory.她捐款成立了一个药剂实验室。
• We are engaged in a legal tussle with a large pharmaceutical company.我们正同一家大制药公司闹法律纠纷。

5 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

6 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

7 expiration   

n.终结，期满，呼气，呼出物

参考例句：

• Can I have your credit card number followed by the expiration date?能告诉我你的信用卡号码和它的到期日吗?
• This contract shall be terminated on the expiration date.劳动合同期满，即行终止。

8 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。

9 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。