Generics brought down common drug prices in 2012: Express Scripts

(Reuters) – Cheaper generic drugs in 2012 brought down spending on treatments for common diseases like high cholesterol for the first time in 20 years, according to a report from the largest manager of U.S. pharmacy benefits. A rise in spending on specialty drug treatments offset that decline, however, and drove total U.S. payments for prescription drugs up 2.7 percent last year, Express Scripts Holding Co said on Tuesday. Spending on drugs to treat high cholesterol and high blood pressure fell 1. …