Content about Schering-Plough

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Bausch + Lomb on Tuesday named Robert Bertolini as president and CFO effective immediately. In this capacity, he will oversee the company's finance, information technology and global quality and operations functions. Bertolini, who assumes CFO responsibilities from Brian Harris, will report to Bausch + Lomb CEO Brent Saunders.  

HYDERABAD, India — Dr. Reddy's Labs has launched a drug used for treating allergies, the generic drug maker said Friday.

The Indian drug maker announced the launch of desloratadine orally disintegrating tablets in the 2.5-mg and 5-mg strengths. The drug is a generic version of Merck's Clarinex Reditabs and is available in unit-dose packages of 30.

The branded version of the drug had sales of about $5.3 million during the 12-month period that ended in November 2012, according to IMS Health.

It’s been cited as one of the biggest health crises facing the United States and, if solved, the equivalent dollar value of a blockbuster drug. According to the latest statistics from pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts, poor medication adherence costs the country $317 billion per year, an upgrade from the $290 billion calculated in a study released in 2009 by the New England Healthcare Institute.


WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — Mylan will be barred from marketing a generic version of a Merck cardiovascular drug until the drug's patent expires, under a court ruling announced Friday.

Merck said the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey ruled against Mylan in two patent infringement suits related to the drugs Zetia (ezetimibe) and Vytorin (ezetimibe and simvastatin). Specifically, the court ruled that a patent covering the drug, RE 42,461, is valid and enforceable and enjoined Mylan from launching until the patents expiration in April 2017.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Coppertone Solar Research Center has announced the launch of two new product lines: Coppertone Sport Pro Series and Coppertone Wet ‘n Clear.

The new Coppertone Sport Pro Series sunscreens are designed to help protect sports enthusiasts from the damaging effects of the sun, while not compromising skin’s natural hydration. The new Coppertone Wet ‘n Clear line offers families sun protection that cuts through water without needing to towel dry, while also helping to keep skin moisturized.

ALLEGAN, Mich. — Perrigo last week announced that it has received final Food and Drug Administration approval for its generic prescription allergy remedy desloratadine 5 mg, the generic equivalent to Schering-Plough's Clarinex.

Under the terms of a patent-infringement suit settlement, Perrigo can commercially launch its generic desloratadine product July 1. The new product launch may be a prescription or over-the-counter product, depending on its status at the time of launch, Perrigo stated.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Monday named Thomas Sabatino Jr. EVP, general counsel and corporate secretary, effective Sept. 12.

Sabatino replaces Dana Green, who is retiring after 37 years with the company, Walgreens stated.

As Drug Store News suggested last month, legislation under consideration in Tennessee and Kentucky that would make the popular decongestant pseudoephedrine only available by prescription has, in fact, sparked interest in neighboring states. Arkansas shares a border with Kentucky, where a PSE prescription-only bill was filed in January, and Mississippi, one of two states that already has passed PSE prescription-only legislation.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — Though Schering-Plough’s — now Merck’s — Claritin and Johnson & Johnson’s Zyrtec product lines have dominated the over-the-counter antihistamine market, the big share of the prescription antihistamine market held by Sanofi-Aventis’ Allegra (fexofenadine hydrochloride) could give it a battering ram to bust in as well, thanks to the big break Sanofi got in the form of a Food and Drug Administration approval of an OTC switch for the drug.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — The president of drug maker Merck now will fill an additional position at the company: CEO.

Merck's board of directors elected president and board member Kenneth Frazier as the company's next leader, effective Jan. 1. Frazier will succeed Richard Clark, who has served as Merck's CEO since 2005. Clark will continue as chairman of the board, the drug maker said.

SILVER SPRING, Md. The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic treatment made by Lupin Pharmaceuticals for allergies, according to FDA records.

The drug is a generic version of Schering-Plough’s Clarinex.

Clarinex has annual sales of around $229 million, according to IMS Health data reported by several media in India, where Lupin is based.

ALLEGAN, Mich. Perrigo has filed for regulatory approval of a generic version of an over-the-counter medication for frequent heartburn, prompting a lawsuit from the branded version’s manufacturer.

The company announced Friday that it had filed for approval for omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate in the 20 mg/1,100 mg strength. The medication is a generic version of Zegerid OTC, made by Schering-Plough HealthCare, a subsidiary of Merck.