Content about Pharmaceutical companies

November 8, 2011
Lilly, Amylin terminate diabetes alliance

Eli Lilly and Amylin Pharmaceuticals are ending their diabetes-drug alliance, the two companies said Tuesday.

SAN DIEGO — Eli Lilly and Amylin Pharmaceuticals are ending their diabetes-drug alliance, the two companies said Tuesday.

Indianapolis-based Lilly and San Diego-based Amylin said they would terminate their alliance concerning exenatide, the active ingredient in the injected diabetes drug Byetta and its long-acting version, Bydureon, currently under investigation.

November 4, 2011
Branded generics offer new ways to reformulate drugs

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.”


November 4, 2011
Q&A: Prez perspective

In September, the Generic Pharmaceutical Association announced the appointment of Ralph Neas — former president and CEO of the National Coalition on Health Care — as its new president and CEO, replacing Kathleen Jaeger, who stepped down as president and CEO of the organization in May 2010.

In September, the Generic Pharmaceutical Association announced the appointment of Ralph Neas — former president and CEO of the National Coalition on Health Care — as its new president and CEO, replacing Kathleen Jaeger, who stepped down as president and CEO of the organization in May 2010. Drug Store News recently spoke with Neas about his plans and vision for the organization and the industry as a whole.


November 4, 2011
With 2012 near, generics still face challenges

In February, Drug Store News discussed three issues concerning generic drugs that would figure prominently throughout the year: drug safety, user fees and patent settlements.


In February, Drug Store News discussed three issues concerning generic drugs that would figure prominently throughout the year: drug safety, user fees and patent settlements.


November 3, 2011
P&G and Teva's joint venture, PGT Healthcare, to form new OTC force

Procter & Gamble on Thursday announced the creation of a new partnership and joint venture with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries to be named PGT Healthcare.

CINCINNATI — Procter & Gamble on Thursday announced the creation of a new partnership and joint venture with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries to be named PGT Healthcare.

“This unique and transformational partnership creates one of the broadest and deepest [over-the-counter] product portfolios and geographic footprints in the industry,” Teva president and CEO Shlomo Yanai said. “Each company’s leading brands will experience tremendous growth by combining our strengths. We will be better together.”

November 2, 2011
Pfizer switch of Lipitor under consideration

It's official. Pfizer will be exploring a potential switch of its blockbuster lipid-lowering drug Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium).

NEW YORK — It's official. Pfizer will be exploring a potential switch of its blockbuster lipid-lowering drug Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium).

November 1, 2011
Pfizer could lose No. 1 global sales ranking to Sanofi next year, report finds

Pfizer soon may lose its distinction of having the highest global sales of any drug company, according to life sciences industry analysis firm EvaluatePharma.

LONDON — Pfizer soon may lose its distinction of having the highest global sales of any drug company, according to life sciences industry analysis firm EvaluatePharma.

The next contender for the title is France's Sanofi, which EvaluatePharma said was expected to take the top spot next year and stay there through 2016.

November 1, 2011
Watson sales, profits surge in Q3

Watson Pharmaceuticals had sales of $1.1 billion and profits of $68.1 million in third quarter 2011, the drug maker said in an earnings statement Tuesday.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Watson Pharmaceuticals had sales of $1.1 billion and profits of $68.1 million in third quarter 2011, the drug maker said in an earnings statement Tuesday.

The latest figures compared with sales of $882.4 million and profits of $25.7 million in third quarter 2010, the company said. For the first nine months of 2011, sales were $3.04 billion and profits were $166.1 million, compared with sales of $2.61 billion and profits of $166.1 million in the first nine months of 2010.

October 31, 2011
Court injunction stops Watson, Amphastar from marketing, selling Lovenox generic

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 25, 2011
FTC staff report attacks branded-generic patent settlements

The Federal Trade Commission released a report Tuesday finding that drug companies entered 28 deals that the FTC called anticompetitive and said would increase healthcare costs for consumers and the government.

WASHINGTON — The Federal Trade Commission released a report Tuesday finding that drug companies entered 28 deals that the FTC called anticompetitive and said would increase healthcare costs for consumers and the government.

The FTC, which under the leadership of chairman Jon Leibowitz, repeatedly has attacked what it calls "pay-for-delay" deals between branded and generic drug manufacturers and has been lobbying the Congressional Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, also known as the super committee, to ban the deals.

October 25, 2011
Sales, profits increase for Dr. Reddy's in Q2

Dr. Reddy's Labs reported sales of $462 million for second quarter 2012 and $866 million for the first half of the fiscal year, according to an earnings statement released Tuesday.

HYDERABAD, India — Dr. Reddy's Labs reported sales of $462 million for second quarter 2012 and $866 million for the first half of the fiscal year, according to an earnings statement released Tuesday.

The Indian generic drug maker said the second-quarter sales represented a 21% increase over second quarter 2011. Sales from global generics were $329 million for the quarter, an 18% increase over second quarter 2011, driven mostly by growth in North America and Russia.

Profits for the quarter were $63 million, a 7% increase over second quarter 2011.

October 25, 2011
Sanofi appoints David Meeker as CEO of Genzyme

Sanofi has appointed David Meeker as CEO of Genzyme, the French drug maker said.

PARIS — Sanofi has appointed David Meeker as CEO of Genzyme, the French drug maker said.

Sanofi bought the Cambridge, Mass.-based biotech manufacturer for $20.1 billion earlier this year.

"After working closely with David over the past six months, I am confident that he is the best person to lead Genzyme," Sanofi CEO Christopher Viehbacher said. "David's commitment to employees, physicians and patients has been a key success factor in the successful integration of Genzyme as part of the Sanofi Group."

October 24, 2011
FDA approves generic versions of Zyprexa

The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first generic versions of two drugs made by Eli Lilly for treating schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, the agency said Monday.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first generic versions of two drugs made by Eli Lilly for treating schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, the agency said Monday.

The FDA announced the approval of generic olanzapine tablets and olanzapine orally disintegrating tablets, respectively generic versions of Lilly's Zyprexa and Zyprexa Zydus. Dr. Reddy's Labs and Teva Pharmaceuticals USA will manufacture olanzapine tablets, while Dr. Reddy's, Apotex and Par Pharmaceuticals will manufacture the orally disintegrating version.

October 21, 2011
Senators urge congressional super committee to support 'pay-for-delay' ban

Two senators are trying to get the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to take up a bill that would ban so-called "pay-for-delay" patent settlements between brand and generic drug companies, according to published reports.

WASHINGTON — Two senators are trying to get the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to take up a bill that would ban so-called "pay-for-delay" patent settlements between brand and generic drug companies, according to published reports.

The Pharma Letter reported that Sens. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., and Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, had urged the "super committee" to support a bill that would ban settlements that include any form of payment in exchange for holding off launch of a generic drug.

October 19, 2011
ReportersNotebook — Chain Pharmacy, 10/24/11

The Medicines Co. and generic drug maker Teva Pharmaceutical Industries have reached a settlement that will allow Teva to start selling a generic version of one of MDCO’s drugs by the end of the decade.

SUPPLIER NEWS — The Medicines Co. and generic drug maker Teva Pharmaceutical Industries have reached a settlement that will allow Teva to start selling a generic version of one of MDCO’s drugs by the end of the decade. The drug makers announced the settlement in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, whereby Teva can launch a generic version of the injectable anticoagulant drug Angiomax (bivalirudin) in June 2019.


October 19, 2011
Takeda launches late-stage trial program for Type 2 diabetes drug

Takeda Pharmaceuticals has started a late-stage clinical trial program for a drug to treat Type 2 diabetes, the drug maker said.

OSAKA, Japan — Takeda Pharmaceuticals has started a late-stage clinical trial program for a drug to treat Type 2 diabetes, the drug maker said.

October 18, 2011
HDMA names six new directors; ABC's Neu appointed vice chair

The Healthcare Distribution Management Association on Tuesday named six new members to its board of directors.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Healthcare Distribution Management Association on Tuesday named six new members to its board of directors — Maria Burns, Burlington Drug Co. VP and corporate secretart; Gregory Drew, Value Drug Co. president; Terrance Haas, Harvard Drug Group CEO; David Neu, AmerisourceBergen president; Dale Smith, H. D. Smith chairman and CEO; and Albert Thomas, senior director and general manager of VaxServe, a Sanofi Pasteur company.

October 18, 2011
Prasco to bring Aspen brand to U.S. market

Prasco Labs announced it will serve as the exclusive U.S. distributor and pharmaceutical services provider for a line of branded prescription drugs.

CINCINNATI — Prasco Labs announced it will serve as the exclusive U.S. distributor and pharmaceutical services provider for a line of branded prescription drugs.

Prasco said that it will distribute products under the Aspen Global brand, the generic drug maker said. Aspen currently serves Africa, Latin America, Europe, Australia and Asia markets.

October 18, 2011
Teva completes Cephalon acquisition

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has completed its acquisition of another drug maker, following clearance from the Federal Trade Commission.

JERUSALEM — Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has completed its acquisition of another drug maker, following clearance from the Federal Trade Commission.

Teva said its acquisition of Frazier, Pa.-based Cephalon, valued at $6.8 billion, will help the company build out its branded and specialty pharmaceuticals business. The combined company is expected to generate about $20 billion in revenues (on a pro-forma basis) for the 12 months ended in June.

In relation to the deal, Teva sold three generic drugs to Par Pharmaceutical Cos.

October 12, 2011
Teva's Copaxone reduced brain volume loss in patients, according to study

Multiple sclerosis patients treated with a drug made by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries showed a "significant" reduction in their loss of brain volume, according to a new study.

JERUSALEM — Multiple sclerosis patients treated with a drug made by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries showed a "significant" reduction in their loss of brain volume, according to a new study.

Results of a five-year study published in the Journal of the Neurological Sciences found that Copaxone (glatiramer acetate) produced significant reductions in patients' loss of brain volume compared with other disease-modifying therapies.

October 11, 2011
Lupin launches contraceptive authorized generic

Indian generic drug maker Lupin has launched an authorized generic version of a birth control pill made by Warner Chilcott, according to published reports.

NEW YORK — Indian generic drug maker Lupin has launched an authorized generic version of a birth control pill made by Warner Chilcott, according to published reports.

Dow Jones reported that Lupin launched an authorized generic of Femcon (norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol tablets, ferrous fumarate tablets).

An authorized generic is a branded drug sold under its generic name at a reduced price, usually through a third-party company.

 

October 11, 2011
Zacks: Warner Chilcott can withstand generic threats

Drug maker Warner Chilcott's diversified portfolio of drugs will help it weather generic challenges to its patents, according to a new report by Zacks Investment Research.

NEW YORK — Drug maker Warner Chilcott's diversified portfolio of drugs will help it weather generic challenges to its patents, according to a new report by Zacks Investment Research.

October 10, 2011
FDA approves Boehringer Ingelheim COPD treatment

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new product for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease made by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, the drug maker said.

RIDGEFIELD, Conn. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new product for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease made by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, the drug maker said.

October 10, 2011
FTC clears Teva-Cephalon acquisition deal

The Federal Trade Commission has given Teva Pharmaceutical Industries the green light to acquire Frazer, Pa.-based drug maker Cephalon, but with some restrictions, Teva said.

JERUSALEM — The Federal Trade Commission has given Teva Pharmaceutical Industries the green light to acquire Frazer, Pa.-based drug maker Cephalon, but with some restrictions, Teva said.

Before it can complete the $6.8 billion deal, Teva must sell to Par Pharmaceutical Cos. its generic versions of two Cephalon drugs, namely generic versions of the cancer pain drug Actiq (fentanyl citrate) and the muscle relaxant drug Amrix (cyclobenzaprine), which have combined sales of $298 million per year, according to IMS Health.

October 7, 2011
Merck's Juvisync approved for Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug that it called the first single-pill combination treatment for Type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug that it called the first single-pill combination treatment for Type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol.

The FDA approved Merck's Juvisync (sitagliptin and simvastatin), manufactured by Merck subsidiary MSD International GmbH Clonmel Co., based in Tipperary, Ireland. Merck operates under the name MSD outside the United States and Canada in order to avoid confusion with Germany-based Merck KGaA.