Content about Pharmaceutics

BASEL, Switzerland Novartis on Thursday announced that it has completed its purchase of Alcon stock from Nestle, resulting in 77% ownership of Alcon. This has been achieved by completing the acquisition of the remaining 52% of Alcon shares owned by Nestle for a total of $28.3 billion.

NEW YORK The global market for vaccines grew to more than $20 billion last year, according to a report by healthcare market research firm Kalorama Information.

The New York-based firm’s report, “Vaccines 2010: World Market Analysis, Key Players and Critical Trends in a Fast-Changing Industry,” indicated that the world market for preventative vaccines was $22.1 billion in 2009, compared with $19 billion in 2008.

SOMERSET, N.J. A lot of generic drug companies have conducted business in the branded drug market on the side for a long time, with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and Watson Pharmaceuticals standing out as good examples. But lately, some branded drug companies have sought to get into generics as well.

Meda Pharmaceuticals, the U.S. subsidiary of Swedish drug maker Meda A.B., recently decided to create its own generics subsidiary, calling it Wallace Pharmaceuticals, senior marketing director John White told Drug Store News.

SILVER SPRING, Md. The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first generic version of a Sanofi-Aventis injected drug used to treat deep vein thrombosis, the agency said Friday.

The FDA approved generic enoxaparin sodium, a version of Sanofi’s Lovenox, developed under a collaboration between Momenta Pharmaceuticals and Sandoz, the generics division of Swiss drug maker Novartis.

DETROIT Generic drug maker Caraco Pharmaceutical Labs has launched a generic antidepressant, Caraco said Wednesday.

The drug maker announced the launch of bupropion hydrochloride extended-release tablets in the 150 mg and 200 mg strengths.

The drug is a generic version of GlaxoSmithKline’s Wellbutrin SR. Various versions of the drug have annual sales of $300 million, according to Caraco.