Harris Makes Impact With Generic Dermatology Treatments
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Harris Pharmaceutical continues to focus on a strategy to become a preferred provider of generic dermatological products.
The company, with headquarters here, was founded by Dr. Brian Harris and his sister, Janice Harris. The former is a dermatologist with a specialization in Mohs surgery (also known as chemosurgery), a highly effective procedure for common types of skin cancer, as well as a respected clinical investigator; Janice Harris is a certified public accountant.
Dr. Harris serves as chief executive officer of the company, while Janice Harris is vice president and chief operating officer. Together, they have numerous years of experience in building and operating multiple dermatology practices and a clinical research organization in southwest Florida.
The experience of working with numerous brand and generic companies throughout their product development and clinical trials sparked the Harris' interest in pursuing additional opportunities and challenges related directly to the pharmaceuticals industry. In 2002 they founded Harris Pharmaceutical.
Since its inception, Harris' primary strategy has been to develop, manufacture and commercialize the company's own abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs). At the same time, in order to offer patients and customers a varied and complete dermatological product portfolio, Harris has been acquiring and licensing additional products in its niche.
Dr. Harris has seen firsthand how effectively brand name medications have established themselves.
"For many years, innovation was the rule; new compounds and products were regularly introduced that offered significant improvements in performance over existing brands," he comments. "In recent years, however, it seems the tried-and-true formulations have become the mainstay - compounds that have been available for years enjoy both a high degree of clinical success and patient acceptance.
"However, additional brand name medications continue to be introduced every year - many as simple line extensions. New drugs that are not always better, and that have generic alternatives that work just as well, are available at a lower cost. With that in mind, we chose to focus our efforts toward the generics market."
He adds that the company also employed a "go with what you know" strategy with regard to product selection and development, which led to the dermatology niche. The mantra of Harris Pharmaceutical is "focus on doing one thing and doing it well."
The landscape in the generic pharmaceutical market is constantly changing, comments Dr. Harris.
"The trend has been - and will likely continue to be - one of consolidation; this means fewer suppliers and larger companies," he says. "For pharmacies and patients alike, this is likely to translate into fewer choices both in supplier and product terms.
"We have found that customers have welcomed a new choice in suppliers, and it is in that context that we believe Harris Pharmaceutical fills a unique need and can bring value to our customers. Our specific knowledge of the products we are developing and promoting - combined with a sales and marketing team composed of veterans of the generics industry - has resulted in a rapid acceptance of the Harris label."
Since launching its first product, terbinafine HCl tablets, in 2007 Harris Pharmaceutical has increased its number of products to eight through last year. Several of these product launches were first-time generics, including terbinafine tablets and ciclopirox nail lacquer.
The Harris line now represents various dosage forms, including oral solids, liquids, topical creams, ointments and washes - all of which are targeted at the dermatology market.
In 2008 Harris introduced the mometasone furoate family of products (cream, ointment and solution). The company also introduced metronidazole 0.75% topical cream, benzoyl peroxide topical wash in 5% and 10% strengths, and hydroxyzine HCl in 10-, 25- and 50-mg tablets.
Besides the recent product launches, Harris has multiple ANDAs pending Food and Drug Administration approval and has additional products in general.
Chain drug stores are a core component of the company?s business.
"Retail pharmacies in general, and chain pharmacies in particular, are fundamental to the distribution of dermatological pharmaceuticals," points out Janice Harris.
Citing recent figures from IMS Health, she notes that most dermatology-related prescriptions are written in the physician setting and that 83% of all products that IMS defines as dermatologicals are filled through retail channels.
