Content about Novartis

December 5, 2011

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


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


The Pittsburgh-based generic drug maker was the first to file for regulatory approval of the drug with the Food and Drug Administration, and as such will be entitled to 180 days of 
market exclusivity.


November 21, 2011

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

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.

November 11, 2011

Watson Pharmaceuticals is challenging Swiss drug maker Novartis' patent on a drug used to treat dementia, Watson said.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Watson Pharmaceuticals is challenging three of Swiss drug maker Novartis' patents on a drug used to treat dementia, Watson said.

The company said subsidiary Watson Labs had filed for approval generic rivastigmine transdermal system patches in the 4.6-mg and 9.5-mg strengths, both designed to last for 24 hours, with the Food and Drug Administration. The patches are used to treat mild to moderate dementia associated with Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease.

November 4, 2011

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.”


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.”


October 31, 2011

Watson Pharmaceuticals and a partnering company are barred from launching a generic version of a blood-thinning drug under a federal court decision issued Friday.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Watson Pharmaceuticals and a partnering company are barred from launching a generic version of a blood-thinning drug under a federal court decision issued Friday.

October 11, 2011

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


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.


October 11, 2011

The Food and Drug Administration has approved Mylan’s promethazine hydrochloride tablets, a generic drug for treating allergies, in the 12.5-mg, 25-mg and 50-mg strengths.

SUPPLIER NEWS — The Food and Drug Administration has approved Mylan’s promethazine hydrochloride tablets, a generic drug for treating allergies, in the 12.5-mg, 25-mg and 50-mg strengths. Promethazine hydrochloride tablets, which are manufactured by several companies, had sales of about $42 million during the 12-month period ended in June, according to IMS Health.


September 22, 2011

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

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.

September 1, 2011

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new use for a follow-on biologic made by Sandoz.

PRINCETON, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new use for a follow-on biologic made by Sandoz.

Sandoz, the generic drugs arm of Swiss drug maker Novartis, announced the approval of Omnitrope (somatropin [rDNA origin]) for children with growth failure due to Turner syndrome. Sandoz said Omnitrope was now approved for all the same indications as the reference product, Pfizer's Genotropin.

August 23, 2011

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

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.

August 19, 2011

Generic drug maker Sandoz is suing Danish drug maker Novo Nordisk over a generic version of a drug used to treat diabetes, according to published reports.

NEW YORK — Generic drug maker Sandoz is suing Danish drug maker Novo Nordisk over a generic version of a drug used to treat diabetes, according to published reports.

Bloomberg reported that Sandoz, the generics arm of Swiss drug maker Novartis, was suing Novo Nordisk in a Detroit federal court, hoping the court would find that the Sandoz generic version of Novo Nordisk's Prandin (repaglinide) did not infringe on the latter company's patent covering the drug.

August 2, 2011

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.

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.

July 25, 2011

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug made by Johnson & Johnson for treating deep vein thrombosis in patients undergoing knee or hip replacement surgery, a J&J subsidiary said.

SUPPLIER NEWS — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug made by Johnson & Johnson for treating deep vein thrombosis in patients undergoing knee or hip replacement surgery, a J&J subsidiary said. Janssen Pharmaceuticals announced the approval of Xarelto (rivaroxaban) tablets as a once-daily oral anticoagulant for DVT, a condition that could lead to pulmonary embolism.


July 13, 2011

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.

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. 

July 5, 2011

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug made by Novartis for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the FDA said Friday.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug made by Novartis for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the FDA said Friday.

The FDA approved Arcapta Neohaler (indacaterol inhalation powder) for long-term, once-daily maintenance of bronchodilator treatment of airflow obstruction in people with COPD, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

COPD, which often results from cigarette smoking, is the fourth-leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

June 20, 2011


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.



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.


June 8, 2011

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic oral contraceptive made by Sandoz, the company said Wednesday.

PRINCETON, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic oral contraceptive made by Sandoz, the company said Wednesday.

Sandoz, the generics arm of Swiss drug maker Novartis, announced the launch of Syeda (drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol) tablets in the 3-mg/0.03-mg strength.

The drug is a generic version of Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals’ Yasmin. Yasmin and generic versions of the drug had sales of about $365 million during the 12-month period ended in April, according to IMS Health.

June 6, 2011

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

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.

June 2, 2011

A class of drugs commonly used to control blood pressure does not increase patients’ risk of developing cancer, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — A class of drugs commonly used to control blood pressure does not increase patients’ risk of developing cancer, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

June 1, 2011

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

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.

May 23, 2011

The FDA has approved a new treatment for Type 2 diabetes, the agency said. The FDA announced the approval of Tradjenta (linagliptin) made by Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and German drug maker Boehringer Ingelheim.


SUPPLIER NEWS — The FDA has approved a new treatment for Type 2 diabetes, the agency said. The FDA announced the approval of Tradjenta (linagliptin) made by Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and German drug maker Boehringer Ingelheim.


May 23, 2011

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

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.

May 20, 2011

Sandoz is looking to market a generic version of a Shire drug for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

DUBLIN — Sandoz is looking to market a generic version of a Shire drug for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

May 12, 2011

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

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.

May 6, 2011

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug made by Novartis as the first treatment for advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, Novartis said Thursday.

EAST HANOVER, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug made by Novartis as the first treatment for advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, Novartis said Thursday.

Novartis announced the approval of Afinitor (everolimus), saying it marked the first approval of a drug for advanced pancreatic NET in nearly 30 years. The drug already is approved for treating cancers of the kidneys and brain.