Content about Pharmaceutical companies

JERUSALEM — Teva Pharmaceuticals has launched an authorized generic version of a contraceptive made by Duramed Pharmaceuticals, Teva said.

Teva announced the launch of Camrese, an authorized generic of Duramed’s Seasonique (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets and ethinyl estradiol tablets).

The launch of Teva’s authorized generic follows the launch of Watson Pharmaceuticals’ generic version of the drug, which it is marketing under the name Amethia.

PHILADELPHIA — GlaxoSmithKline expects to close the deal on the divestiture of several over-the-counter brands that were identified in April, the company stated Tuesday as part of its second-quarter earnings results.

"The divestment of noncore OTC assets in the [United States] and Europe will further aid our strategy to accelerate growth and increase the focus of our Consumer Healthcare business," GSK stated. "We are making progress to divest these products by late 2011, subject to realizing appropriate value for shareholders."

PARIS — The president and CEO of Sanofi's U.S. operations is stepping into a newly created role at the drug maker.

Greg Irace will become SVP global services, leading the global information systems function and will be responsible for shared support functions across all Sanofi businesses in North America. He also will play a key role in the development of a global strategy for shared services. Irace will report to Jérôme Contamine, Sanofi EVP and CFO.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Watson Pharmaceuticals had sales of $1.1 billion during second quarter 2011, the generic drug maker said.

In a financial report released Tuesday, Watson said the sales figures for the quarter represented a 24% increase over sales in second quarter 2010. Profit for the quarter was $52.4 million, compared with $70.6 million in second quarter 2010.

“Our record $1 billion in net revenues in the second quarter demonstrates the strength of our combined global generics and global brands strategies,” Watson president and CEO Paul Bisaro said.

WILMINGTON, Del. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug made by AstraZeneca to reduce the rate of heart attacks in patients with acute coronary syndrome, the Anglo-Swedish drug maker said.

AstraZeneca announced the approval of Brilinta (ticagrelor), a blood-thinning drug, on Wednesday. The drug maker is touting the drug as an alternative to Plavix (clopidogrel), made by Sanofi and Bristol-Myers Squibb.

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Generic drug maker Teva recently admitted that one of its drugs infringes two of Amgen's patents.

The U.S. District Court in Pennsylvania has barred Teva from selling its human G-CSF (human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor) product Neutroval in the United States until Nov. 10, 2013. What's more, the court's injunction extends to Teva's other human G-CSF product, Neugranin. Teva will not sell Neugranin until Nov. 10, 2013, unless it first obtains a final court decision that Amgen's patents are not infringed by Neugranin.

JERUSALEM — Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has completed its acquisition of Japan’s third-largest generics company, Teva said.

The Israeli drug maker, the world’s largest maker of generic drugs, announced that it had acquired effectively all the outstanding shares of Taiyo Pharmaceutical Industry Co. for $934 million.

PARIS — French drug maker Sanofi has sold its skin care business to Canada’s Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Sanofi said.

Sanofi said the $425 million sale of its dermatology business, Dermik, would allow it to focus on its core businesses. Valeant’s business is much more focused on dermatology, as well as neurology, than Sanofi’s is.

DARMSTADT, Germany — Merck KGaA division Merck Serono has appointed Belen Garijo as COO and Annalisa Jenkins as global head of drug development and medical, effective Sept. 5.

The company, which operates under the name "EMD" in the United States and is a separate company from U.S.-based Merck, said Garijo and Jenkins will be based in Geneva and will report to president Stefan Oschmann.

Garijo previously worked for Sanofi, where he was SVP global operations for the European region, while Jenkins was SVP global medical for Bristol-Myers Squibb.

CORK, Ireland — A subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson and Gilead Sciences will collaborate to develop a combination drug for HIV, the two companies said Tuesday.

Gilead and Tibotec Pharmaceuticals will work to create a once-daily, single-tablet combination of Tibotec’s Prezista (darunavir) and Gilead’s investigational drug cobicistat, a so-called boosting agent.

SALT LAKE CITY — Watson Pharmaceuticals plans to expand its manufacturing and research and development plant in Salt Lake City, the drug maker said.

The $44 million expansion of the plant will include retrofitting about 20,000 sq. ft. of space and the construction of about 17,000 additional sq. ft. The expansion of the plant, which makes transdermal patches and topical gels, is expected to include the addition of about 300 new employees over the next three to five years.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Watson subsidiary Watson Labs is seeking approval for a drug designed to treat symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia in men with an enlarged prostate.

The company filed an abbreviated new drug application to market dutasteride capsules in the 0.5-mg strength. The drug is a generic version of Avodart, which is made by GlaxoSmithKline.