Content about Novartis

PITTSBURGH — Mylan will begin selling a generic drug for treating symptoms of menopause in two years, the company said Monday.

Following the settlement of a patent-litigation suit with Swiss drug maker Novartis over the patch Vivelle-Dot (estradiol transdermal system), Mylan said it had received a patent license to begin selling its version of the drug in December 2013.

In the classic “Arabian Nights” tale of Aladdin and his magic lamp, the evil sorcerer who made Aladdin retrieve the lamp containing the genie attempts to get it back by tricking Aladdin’s wife into giving it to him by roaming through the streets offering to trade “new lamps for old.”


BAGSVAERD, Denmark — A lot has been happening at Swiss drug maker Novartis in the realm of vaccines.


In July, the company began early shipment of its flu vaccine, Fluvirin, in order to ensure that patients can receive the earliest possible protection against influenza. The drug maker plans to ship more than 30 million doses.


NEW YORK — Dr. Reddy's Labs has launched a drug for treating Alzheimer's disease, the company said.

Dr. Reddy's announced the launch of rivastigmine tartrate capsules in the 1.5-mg, 3-mg, 4.5-mg and 6-mg strengths.

The drug is a generic version of Novartis' Exelon. Exelon and other generic versions of the drug had sales of about $92.6 million during the 12-month period ended in June, according to IMS Health.

PRINCETON, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a chemotherapy drug made by Sandoz, the drug maker said Tuesday.

Sandoz, the generics division of Swiss drug maker Novartis, announced the approval and launch of docetaxel, an injectable chemotherapy drug that the company said was the 11th cancer drug it has launched in the United States.

EAST HANOVER, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new use for a drug made by Novartis for treating multiple sclerosis, the Swiss drug maker's U.S. subsidiary said Monday.

Novartis Pharmaceuticals announced the FDA's approval of Gilenya (fingolimod) for the reduction of T1 gadolinium-enhancing lesions, areas of inflammation in the central nervous system that mark disease activity in people with MS.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Product recalls over the past two years have eroded consumer trust in over-the-counter drugs; however, those same recalls represent opportunity for smaller market players to gain exposure and build brand awareness, wrote Laura Mahecha, industry manager for health care at research firm Kline, in an online report issued Wednesday. In addition, private-label brands and “natural OTCs” are enjoying strong growth. 


Good things come in three — like the three antacids that for the 52 weeks ended April 17 collectively generated more than $118 million in sales on top of the sales base they had established in the year-ago period.


SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a dozen new generic versions of a drug used to treat breast cancer, the agency said Monday.

The FDA said that on Friday it approved versions of Novartis’ drug Femara (letrozole) made by Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Dr. Reddy’s Labs, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Impax Labs, Endo Pharmaceuticals, Roxane Labs, Accord Healthcare, Synthon Pharmaceuticals, Natco Pharma, Indicus Pharma, Fresenius Kabi Oncology and Kudco Ireland.

PRINCETON, N.J. — Sandoz has launched generic versions of treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, the generic pharmaceuticals division of Swiss drug maker Novartis said Wednesday.

Sandoz announced the launch of donepezil hydrochloride film-coated tablets and donepezil hydrochloride orally disintegrating tablets, which are generic versions of Eisai and Pfizer’s Aricept and Aricept ODT, respectively.

Donepezil hydrochloride film-coated and orally disintegrating tablets had sales of $2.3 billion in the 12-month period ended in March, according to IMS Health.

NEW YORK — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a Pfizer drug for treating pancreatic tumors.

Pfizer announced Friday the approval of Sutent (sunitinib malate) for the treatment of progressive, well-differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors in patients with locally advanced disease that can’t be removed through surgery. Pancreatic NET is a rare cancer reported in 2 million to 4 million people worldwide every year.

RICHMOND, Va. — A blood pressure drug made by Swiss drug maker Novartis has won an award from the Healthcare Compliance Packaging Council.

Novartis Diovan HCT (valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide) won the HCPC’s Compliance Package of the Year award at the council’s RxAdherence 19th annual symposium for its Shellpak packaging design, made by product packaging manufacturer MeadWestvaco Corp. Anderson Packaging, part of AmerisourceBergen Packaging Group, handles the drug’s fulfillment.