Content about Pharmaceutical companies

April 25, 2012
Amgen to buy Turkish drug maker for $700 million

Biotech drug maker Amgen is buying a pharmaceutical company based in Turkey, the companies said Wednesday.

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Biotech drug maker Amgen is buying a pharmaceutical company based in Turkey, the companies said Wednesday.

Amgen said it would acquire 95.6% of Istanbul-based Mustafa Nevzat for $700 million in an all-cash deal, saying the purchase would allow it to expand in Turkey and the surrounding region. The company, also known as MN, is a major supplier of injectable drugs in Turkey and, increasingly, an exporter of medicines.

April 25, 2012
Reports: GSK calls $2.6 billion offer for Human Genome Sciences 'full and fair'

GlaxoSmithKline said its offer to buy Human Genome Sciences was "full and fair" Wednesday after HGS turned it down last week, according to published reports.

NEW YORK — GlaxoSmithKline said its offer to buy Human Genome Sciences was "full and fair" Wednesday after HGS turned it down last week, according to published reports.

Reuters reported that GSK's $13-per-share, $2.6 billion offer for HGS would give the former full control of Benlysta (belimumab), the first new drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for lupus in more than half a century. The two companies developed the drug together under a partnership, and the drug received approval in March 2011.

April 25, 2012
Sun launches generic version of Zyprexa

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries has launched a generic version of a drug used to treat psychiatric disorders, the company said.

MUMBAI, India — Sun Pharmaceutical Industries has launched a generic version of a drug used to treat psychiatric disorders, the company said.

Sun announced the launch of olanzapine tablets in the 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg and 20 mg strengths.

The drug is a generic version of Eli Lilly's Zyprexa, used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The branded drug and generic versions had sales of $3.28 billion during the 12-month period ended in January, according to IMS Health.

 

April 23, 2012
Watson launches authorized generic diabetes drug

Watson Pharmaceuticals announced the launch of an authorized generic version of a drug used to lower blood glucose in patients with Type 2 diabetes.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Watson Pharmaceuticals announced the launch of an authorized generic version of a drug used to lower blood glucose in patients with Type 2 diabetes.

April 20, 2012
Bayer donates $25,000 to benefit tornado victims

Bayer on Friday announced that it is providing monetary support for disaster relief efforts through a $25,000 donation from the Bayer USA Foundation to the American Red Cross of southwestern Indiana.

PITTSBURGH — Bayer on Friday announced that it is providing monetary support for disaster relief efforts through a $25,000 donation from the Bayer USA Foundation to the American Red Cross of southwestern Indiana. The state of Indiana was among several states affected by tornadoes on March 2, which caused extensive damage to rural communities such as Henryville, Clarksville and Newburgh.

April 20, 2012
FDA approves Bayer blood-glucose monitoring system

Regulators have approved a new blood-glucose monitoring system made by Bayer HealthCare, the company said.

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. — Regulators have approved a new blood-glucose monitoring system made by Bayer HealthCare, the company said.

Bayer announced the Food and Drug Administration's approval of Contour Next EZ, which includes a meter and test strip sensors that the company said would improve accuracy.

Bayer said the system is being introduced on a market-by-market basis and will be available in the United States this summer.

April 20, 2012
Genzyme to present MS drug trials

Drug maker Genzyme plans to present data from trial programs of two multiple sclerosis drugs at the American Academy of Neurology's annual meeting in New Orleans, which starts this Saturday and lasts until next Saturday.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Drug maker Genzyme plans to present data from trial programs of two multiple sclerosis drugs at the American Academy of Neurology's annual meeting in New Orleans, which starts this Saturday and lasts until next Saturday.

Genzyme, owned by French drug maker Sanofi, will present results of 12 trials of the experimental drugs alemtuzumab and teriflunomide, including the phase-3 "CARE-MS II" trial, which compares alemtuzumab with Rebif (interferon beta-1a), made by Pfizer and Merck KGaA.

April 17, 2012
Mission, EffRx sign agreement for osteoporosis drug

A U.S. drug maker has made a deal with a Swiss company to manufacture and sell a new osteoporosis treatment in North America.

SAN ANTONIO — A U.S. drug maker has made a deal with a Swiss company to manufacture and sell a new osteoporosis treatment in North America.

Mission Pharmacal announced Tuesday a patent and technology licensing agreement with Freienbach, Switzerland-based EffRx Pharmaceuticals for Binosto (alendronate sodium) effervescent tablets in the United States and Canada. Financial terms were not disclosed.

April 16, 2012
Merck, Endocyte sign deal to develop cancer drug

Two drug makers have signed a deal to develop an experimental drug for treating two types of cancer.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — Two drug makers have signed a deal to develop an experimental drug for treating two types of cancer.

Merck and Endocyte announced that they would develop and commercialize the latter's drug EC145 (vintafolide), currently in a phase-3 trial, as a treatment for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer and a phase-2 trial for non-small cell lung cancer. Both studies are also using Endocyte's experimental diagnostic agent, EC20 (etarfolatide).

April 13, 2012
Drug makers invested $49.5 billion in R&D in 2011, report finds

Drug companies invested nearly $50 billion in research and development in 2011, according to a new report by a drug industry trade group.

WASHINGTON — Drug companies invested nearly $50 billion in research and development in 2011, according to a new report by a drug industry trade group.

April 11, 2012
Prasco to market authorized generic Vancocin

Prasco Labs will market an authorized generic version of a drug used to treat diarrhea caused by a bacterial infection, the company said Wednesday.

CINCINNATI — Prasco Labs will market an authorized generic version of a drug used to treat diarrhea caused by a bacterial infection, the company said Wednesday.

Prasco announced that it had signed a deal with ViroPharma to market an authorized generic version of Vancocin (vancomycin hydrochloride) capsules in the 125-mg and 250-mg strengths. The drug is used to treat diarrhea related to Clostridium difficile infection.

April 11, 2012
Reports: Humira to become top-selling drug this year

Move over, Lipitor: There's a new top drug on the market, according to published reports.

NEW YORK — Move over, Lipitor: There's a new top drug on the market, according to published reports.

April 11, 2012
Takeda acquires URL Pharma

Takeda Pharmaceutical will acquire privately owned drug maker URL Pharma for $800 million, the companies said Wednesday.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Takeda Pharmaceutical will acquire privately owned drug maker URL Pharma for $800 million, the companies said Wednesday.

Takeda announced that it would acquire Philadelphia-based URL through a U.S. subsidiary for the upfront payment plus future milestone payments. Takeda said it expected the acquisition to contribute "significantly" to its sales and profits starting in fiscal year 2013.

April 9, 2012
FDA approves labeling change for Novo Nordisk diabetes drug

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a change to the label of a Novo Nordisk drug stating that it offers superior blood-sugar control to a competing drug made by Merck, based on results of two clinical studies, Novo Nordisk said Monday.

PRINCETON, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a change to the label of a Novo Nordisk drug stating that it offers superior blood-sugar control to a competing drug made by Merck, based on results of two clinical studies, Novo Nordisk said Monday.

April 9, 2012
Pfizer brings Lipitor marketing campaign to Walgreens Chicago flagship store

Drug maker Pfizer is taking a marketing campaign for one of its drugs to Walgreens' Chicago flagship store to raise awareness about high cholesterol and healthy eating, the company said Monday.

CHICAGO — Drug maker Pfizer is taking a marketing campaign for one of its drugs to Walgreens' Chicago flagship store to raise awareness about high cholesterol and healthy eating, the company said Monday.

April 6, 2012
Par launches generic version of Provigil

Par Pharmaceutical has started shipping its generic version of a drug for sleep disorders, the company said Friday.

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J. — Par Pharmaceutical has started shipping its generic version of a drug for sleep disorders, the company said Friday.

Par announced the launch of a generic version of Provigil (modafinil), used to treat such sleep disorders as narcolepsy and work shift sleep disorder.

April 5, 2012
Teva entitled to exclusivity on Provigil, FDA decides

Teva is the first company to file for a generic version of a drug to treat sleep disorders, the Food and Drug Administration has determined.

JERUSALEM — Teva is the first company to file for a generic version of a drug used to treat sleep disorders, the Food and Drug Administration has determined, though Mylan is contesting the FDA decision.

April 4, 2012
Patents covering Sanctura XR invalid, court rules

A court has ruled that patents covering a drug used for overactive bladder are invalid, a company looking to launch a generic version of the drug said.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — A court has ruled that patents covering a drug designed to treat an overactive bladder are invalid, a company looking to launch a generic version of the drug said.

Watson Pharmaceuticals said the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware ruled that five patents covering Allergan's Sanctura XR (trospium chloride) extended-release capsules were invalid. Watson's application with the Food and Drug Administration for a generic version are pending, the company said.

April 3, 2012
Prestige Brands completes remainder of GSK OTC brands acquisition

Prestige Brands Holdings on Monday announced that it has completed the purchase of the two remaining brands of the 17 brands it agreed to acquire from GlaxoSmithKline; the purchase of Debrox ear wax remover and Gly-Oxide oral rinse completes the transaction.

IRVINGTON, N.Y. — Prestige Brands Holdings on Monday announced that it has completed the purchase of the two remaining brands of the 17 brands it agreed to acquire from GlaxoSmithKline; the purchase of Debrox ear wax remover and Gly-Oxide oral rinse completes the transaction.

For all 17 brands, Prestige paid a total of $660 million in cash plus a customary post-closing inventory adjustment under the original terms of the agreements.

April 3, 2012
Watson seeks approval for generic Lumigan, Latisse

Watson is challenging the patent protection on two eye drugs made by Allergan, the generic drug maker said Tuesday.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Watson is challenging the patent protection on two eye drugs made by Allergan, the generic drug maker said Tuesday.

Watson announced that it had filed with the Food and Drug Administration for generic versions of Allergan's Lumigan and Latisse (bimatoprost) ophthalmic solution. The products contain the same active ingredient in the 0.01% and 0.03% strengths, respectively, and are used to reduce pressure within the eye in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

April 2, 2012
Teva launches generic hypertension drugs

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has launched generic versions of two blood pressure drugs made by Sanofi, Teva said Monday.

JERUSALEM — Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has launched generic versions of two blood pressure drugs made by Sanofi, Teva said Monday.

Teva announced the launch of irbesartan and irbesartan/hydrochlorothiazide tablets, respectively generic versions of Avapro and Avalide. Avapro has annual sales of $464 million, and Avalide has annual sales of $124 million, according to IMS Health. Both drugs are used to treat high blood pressure, also known as hypertension.

March 30, 2012
Genentech announces results of cancer drug trial

Breast cancer patients taking an experimental drug made by Roche subsidiary Genentech lived significantly longer than those taking another drug made by GlaxoSmithKline, according to results of a late-stage clinical trial.

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Breast cancer patients taking an experimental drug made by Roche subsidiary Genentech lived significantly longer than those taking another drug made by GlaxoSmithKline, according to results of a late-stage clinical trial.

March 30, 2012
Teva launches authorized generic sleep disorder drug

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has launched an authorized generic version of Cephalon's Provigil, used for conditions like shift work sleep disorder and narcolepsy, the company said Friday.

JERUSALEM — Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has launched an authorized generic version of Cephalon's Provigil, used for conditions like shift work sleep disorder and narcolepsy, the company said Friday.

Teva acquired Cephalon for $6.8 billion in October 2011. An authorized generic is the branded drug marketed under its generic name at a reduced price.

Provigil had annual sales of about $1.1 billion, according to IMS Health.

 

March 29, 2012
Kline unveils 2011 drivers of U.S. OTC market

The U.S. over-the-counter drug market saw strong growth in 2011, thanks to switches of prescription drugs to OTC, gains in the allergy relief products category and holistic marketing, according to a new report from Kline.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — The U.S. over-the-counter drug market saw strong growth in 2011, thanks to switches of prescription drugs to OTC, gains in the allergy relief products category and holistic marketing, according to a new report from Kline.

According to the international consulting and research firm's Nonprescription Drugs USA 2011 report, at the manufacturers' level, the U.S. OTC drug market posted a gain of 2.4%, reaching $21.4 billion in 2011.

March 28, 2012
Three generic versions of psychiatric drug launched

Three companies have launched generic versions of a psychiatric drug made by AstraZeneca following a court decision turning down the Anglo-Swedish drug maker's request for an injunction against the Food and Drug Administration's approval of the generics.

NEW YORK — Three companies have launched generic versions of a psychiatric drug made by AstraZeneca following a court decision turning down the Anglo-Swedish drug maker's request for an injunction against the Food and Drug Administration's approval of the generics.

Dr. Reddy's Labs, Teva and Mylan announced Wednesday the launch of their respective versions of quetiapine fumarate tablets, generic formulations of AstraZeneca's Seroquel, in strengths ranging from 25 mg to 400 mg.