Content about Watson Pharmaceuticals

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Watson Pharmaceuticals is challenging three of Swiss drug maker Novartis' patents on a drug used to treat dementia, Watson said.

The company said subsidiary Watson Labs had filed for approval generic rivastigmine transdermal system patches in the 4.6-mg and 9.5-mg strengths, both designed to last for 24 hours, with the Food and Drug Administration. The patches are used to treat mild to moderate dementia associated with Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease.

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.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new formulation of a testosterone therapy made by Watson Pharmaceuticals, the drug maker said Friday.

Watson announced the approval of its Androderm (testosterone) transdermal system in the 2-mg and 4-mg formulation. The company said the new smaller size and lower-dose patch would provide "highly effective" testosterone administration with a 20% reduction in the active ingredient from the original strength. Watson plans to launch the new patch next month.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Generic drug maker Watson Pharmaceuticals is seeking Food and Drug Administration approval for a generic treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, the company said.

Watson announced that it filed a regulatory approval application with the FDA for methylphenidate transdermal system, a patch designed to deliver the central nervous system stimulant methylphenidate over a nine-hour period. The drug is a generic version of Noven Pharmaceuticals' Daytrana.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Watson Pharmaceuticals has launched a generic version of a contraceptive made by Warner Chilcott, Watson said Monday.

The drug maker announced the launch of chewable norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol tablets in the 0.4-mg/0.035-mg strength and chewable ferrous fumarate tablets in the 75-mg strength.

The product is a generic version of Warner Chilcott's Femcon Fe, which had sales of about $35 million during the 12-month period ended in July, according to IMS Health.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Watson Pharmaceuticals will build a drug warehouse and distribution center in Mississippi, the drug maker said Thursday.

Watson said its Anda Distribution division would the $23.5 million, 234,000-sq.-ft. center in Olive Branch, Miss. The plant will employ 70 workers.

JERUSALEM — Teva Pharmaceuticals has launched an authorized generic version of a contraceptive made by Duramed Pharmaceuticals, Teva said.

Teva announced the launch of Camrese, an authorized generic of Duramed’s Seasonique (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets and ethinyl estradiol tablets).

The launch of Teva’s authorized generic follows the launch of Watson Pharmaceuticals’ generic version of the drug, which it is marketing under the name Amethia.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Watson Pharmaceuticals had sales of $1.1 billion during second quarter 2011, the generic drug maker said.

In a financial report released Tuesday, Watson said the sales figures for the quarter represented a 24% increase over sales in second quarter 2010. Profit for the quarter was $52.4 million, compared with $70.6 million in second quarter 2010.

“Our record $1 billion in net revenues in the second quarter demonstrates the strength of our combined global generics and global brands strategies,” Watson president and CEO Paul Bisaro said.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Watson Pharmaceuticals last week confirmed that the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has affirmed the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida's February 2011 decision that Watson's generic versions of Mucinex, Mucinex D and Mucinex DM extended-release products do not infringe Reckitt Benckiser’s U.S. Patent No. 6,372,252. 

Watson stated it is continuing to seek final approval of the products from the Food and Drug Administration. 

LIVINGSTON, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has accepted a regulatory approval application for a drug designed to prevent premature birth in pregnant women.

Columbia Labs and Watson Pharmaceuticals announced Monday that the FDA would review their application for Prochieve (progesterone gel) for the reduction of risk of preterm birth in women with short uterine cervical length in the third trimester of pregnancy.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug for arthritis made by Watson Pharmaceuticals, Watson said Friday.

The drug maker announced the approval of nabumetone tablets in the 500-mg and 750-mg strength. The drug is used to treat signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Nabumetone had sales of $58 million during the 12-month period ended in April, according to IMS Health.

PHOENIX — The Healthcare Distribution Management Association on Monday awarded eight leading pharmaceutical and consumer product manufacturers through the presentation of its annual Distribution Industry Awards for Notable Achievements in health care.