Content about Sanofi-Aventis

August 20, 2012
Sanofi Pasteur announces availability of Sklice head lice lotion

Sanofi's vaccine's division has launched a new treatment for head lice, the company said Monday.

SWIFTWATER, Pa. — Sanofi's vaccine's division has launched a new treatment for head lice, the company said Monday.

Sanofi Pasteur announced the availability of Sklice (ivermectin) lotion in the 0.5% strength. The drug is approved for patients ages 6 months and older.

The company said head lice cases have increased rapidly in the United States, affecting between 6 million and 12 million children ages 3 to 11 years each year.

August 15, 2012
FDA approves Wockhardt enlarged prostate drug

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug for enlarged prostate made by generic drug maker Wockhardt, the company said.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug for enlarged prostate made by generic drug maker Wockhardt, the company said.

Wockhardt, based in Mumbai, India, announced the approval of alfuzosin hydrochloride extended-release tablets in the 10-mg strength, which is designed to treat enlarged prostate, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia.

The drug is a generic version of Sanofi's Uroxatral. Various versions of the drug have sales of about $81.5 million, according to IMS Health.

August 13, 2012
FDA approves Sanofi voice-guided auto-injector for allergic reactions

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a voice-guided injection device made by Sanofi for severe allergic reactions, the drug maker said Monday.

PARIS — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a voice-guided injection device made by Sanofi for severe allergic reactions, the drug maker said Monday.

The French drug maker announced the approval of Auvi-Q (epinephrine), calling it the first epinephrine auto-injector with audio and visual cues that guides users through the injection process. Sanofi US licensed the North American commercialization rights to Auvi-Q from Intelliject, which has retained commercialization rights for the rest of the world.

August 9, 2012
Hospira relaunches chemotherapy drug

Hospira has relaunched a generic chemotherapy drug for the U.S. market, the generic drug maker said Thursday.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Hospira has relaunched a generic chemotherapy drug for the U.S. market, the generic drug maker said Thursday.

The company, which specializes in generic injectables, announced the relaunch of oxaliplatin, a version of Sanofi's Eloxatin.

August 9, 2012
Sagent Pharmaceuticals launches oxaliplatin

Drug maker Sagent Pharmaceuticals has launched a generic chemotherapy drug, the company said Thursday.

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — Drug maker Sagent Pharmaceuticals has launched a generic chemotherapy drug, the company said Thursday.

Sagent announced the launch of oxaliplatin, a generic version of Sanofi's Eloxatin.

Various versions of the drug had sales of about $1.7 billion during the 12-month period ended in June, according to IMS Health.

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August 6, 2012
FDA approves Sanofi drug for colorectal cancer

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug for treating colorectal cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, the agency said Friday.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug for treating colorectal cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, the agency said Friday.

July 16, 2012
Sanofi Pasteur begins shipping Fluzone in U.S. for 2012-2013 season

Sanofi Pasteur has begun shipping the first lots of its influenza vaccine for the 2012-2013 season.

SWIFTWATER, Pa. — Sanofi Pasteur has begun shipping the first lots of its influenza vaccine for the 2012-2013 season.

May 18, 2012
Dr. Reddy's launches generic version of Plavix

Generic drug maker Dr. Reddy's Labs has launched a generic version of a drug used to prevent clotting of the blood.

HYDERABAD, India — Generic drug maker Dr. Reddy's Labs has launched a generic version of a drug used to prevent clotting of the blood.

Dr. Reddy's announced Friday the launch of clopidogrel tablets in the 75-mg and 300-mg strengths. The drug is a generic version of Plavix, made by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Sanofi. As one of the first companies to submit a completed regulatory application for the 300 mg strength of the drug, Dr. Reddy's received 180 days of market exclusivity for it.

May 17, 2012
FDA approves generic versions of Plavix

The Food and Drug Administration has approved generic versions of one of the country's top-selling drugs made by eight different companies, the agency said Thursday.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved generic versions of one of the country's top-selling drugs made by eight different companies, the agency said Thursday.

May 16, 2012
Generic Plavix arrives at Walmart, Sam's Club stores

Walmart and Sam's Club will be among the first retailers to offer a generic version of an antiplatelet drug.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart and Sam's Club will be among the first retailers to offer a generic version of an antiplatelet drug.

Clopidogrel, the generic version of Plavix, will be available at both banners pharmacies on May 19. The patent for the Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi drug officially expires Thursday.

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 9, 2012
Kerr Drug, UNC pharmacy school to collaborate in pharmacogenetic study

A regional retail pharmacy chain and a nearby school of pharmacy will collaborate on a study to evaluate the implementation of a pharmacogenetic program in a community pharmacy setting.

RALEIGH, N.C. — A regional retail pharmacy chain and a nearby school of pharmacy will collaborate on a study to evaluate the implementation of a pharmacogenetic program in a community pharmacy setting.

Kerr Drug announced Friday that it would work with the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill's Eshelman School of Pharmacy to explore the feasibility of a program for Sanofi's and Bristol-Myers Squibb's blood-thinning drug Plavix (clopidogrel bisulfate).

February 8, 2012
FDA approves Sanofi lice treatment

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a head lice treatment made by Sanofi, the drug maker said.

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a head lice treatment made by Sanofi, the drug maker said.

Sanofi announced the approval of Sklice (ivermectin) lotion in the 0.5% strength for patients ages 6 months and older. According to Sanofi, head lice infest an estimated 6 to 12 million children ages 3 to 11 years and costs as much as $1 billion in lost school days and lost work for parents.

January 26, 2012
Federal court clears way for Watson, Amphastar to launch generic version of Lovenox

A federal court has stopped an injunction that would have prevented drug maker Watson Pharmaceuticals and partner company Amphastar Pharmaceuticals from marketing or selling a generic version of a blood-thinning drug.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — A federal court has stopped an injunction that would have prevented drug maker Watson Pharmaceuticals and partner company Amphastar Pharmaceuticals from marketing or selling a generic version of a blood-thinning drug.

November 23, 2011
FDA approves first drug for insomnia with middle-of-night waking, difficulty returning to sleep

The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first drug for insomnia in which patients wake in the middle of the night and have trouble returning to sleep.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first drug for insomnia in which patients wake in the middle of the night and have trouble returning to sleep.

November 14, 2011
Study: Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Squibb drug for internal blood clots not superior to enoxaparin

A drug under development by Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb for preventing internal blood clots failed to show superiority over a treatment already on the market, the companies said Monday.

NEW YORK — A drug under development by Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb for preventing internal blood clots failed to show superiority over a treatment already on the market, the companies said Monday.

The two drug makers announced Monday results of the phase-3 "ADOPT" study, which was designed to compare the safety and effectiveness of Eliquis (apixaban) with enoxaparin in preventing venous thromboembolism in patients with acute medical illness. Sanofi sells enoxaparin under the brand name Lovenox, and it is available as a generic.

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.

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
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 20, 2011
Byetta approved for use with Lantus

A diabetes drug made by Eli Lilly and Amylin Pharmaceuticals has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration for use with an insulin product made by Sanofi.

INDIANAPOLIS — A diabetes drug made by Eli Lilly and Amylin Pharmaceuticals has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration for use with an insulin product made by Sanofi.

Lilly and Amylin said Byetta (eventide) won approval from the FDA as an add-on therapy for patients with Type 2 diabetes taking Sanofi's Lantus (insulin glargine [rDNA origin]) who have not achieved adequate blood sugar control on Lantus alone.

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 11, 2011
Inspiration Biopharmaceuticals appoints former Genzyme exec as CEO

A drug maker that focuses on treatments for hemophilia has named a new CEO.

LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif. — A drug maker that focuses on treatments for hemophilia has named a new CEO.

Inspiration Biopharmaceuticals announced Tuesday the appointment of John Butler as chief executive officer. Butler replaces Michael Griffith, who is taking the role of chief scientific officer while retaining the title of president.

October 6, 2011
Sanofi MS drug shows good results in phase-3 trial

A drug under investigation by Sanofi for multiple sclerosis improved several measures of disease activity in patients, according to results of a late-stage clinical trial.

PARIS — A drug under investigation by Sanofi for multiple sclerosis improved several measures of disease activity in patients, according to results of a late-stage clinical trial.

September 28, 2011
Sanofi supports flu shot awareness program targeting seniors

Sanofi Pasteur on Wednesday launched an awareness campaign to inform Florida residents ages 65 years and older about the importance of influenza protection and the key role vaccination plays in helping to improve the body's immune response against the virus.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Sanofi Pasteur on Wednesday launched an awareness campaign to inform Florida residents ages 65 years and older about the importance of influenza protection and the key role vaccination plays in helping to improve the body's immune response against the virus.

Adults 65 years of age and older typically are the hardest hit by influenza. This new program, called Influenza Immunization for You, urges older adults to talk to their healthcare provider about vaccine options. Florida Hospital Medical Group is spearheading the initiative in the region.

September 23, 2011
Take Care Health Systems opens on-site medical center, pharmacy at Sanofi U.S. HQ

Take Care Health Systems, which is owned by Walgreens, and Sanofi U.S. have announced the opening of a full-service medical center and on-site pharmacy at Sanofi’s U.S. headquarters in Bridgewater, N.J.

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — Take Care Health Systems, which is owned by Walgreens, and Sanofi U.S. have announced the opening of a full-service medical center and on-site pharmacy at Sanofi’s U.S. headquarters in Bridgewater, N.J.