Content about Watson Pharmaceuticals

November 11, 2011

An appeals court has thrown out an attempt by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries to stop Watson Pharmaceuticals from selling a generic contraceptive, Watson said.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — An appeals court has thrown out an attempt by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries to stop Watson Pharmaceuticals from selling a generic contraceptive, Watson said.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed a lower court's June 16 decision to deny Duramed Pharmaceuticals' request for an injunction that would stop Watson from selling a generic version of Seasonique (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol [0.15 mg/0.03 mg] and ethinyl estradiol [0.01 mg]). Duramed originally was a subsidiary of Barr Pharmaceuticals, which Teva acquired in 2008.

November 11, 2011

Watson Pharmaceuticals is challenging Swiss drug maker Novartis' patent on a drug used to treat dementia, Watson said.

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.

November 11, 2011

Watson Pharmaceuticals has launched its generic version of an opioid drug for treating pain, the company said Thursday.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Watson Pharmaceuticals has launched its generic version of an opioid drug for treating pain, the company said Thursday.

Watson announced the Food and Drug Administration approval and launch of morphine sulfate extended-release capsules.

The drug is a generic version of Actavis' Kadian, which had sales of about $275 million during the 12-month period ended in September, according to IMS Health.

November 1, 2011

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

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 21, 2011

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

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.

October 18, 2011

Watson Pharmaceuticals is looking to market a generic version of a postmenopausal osteoporosis treatment.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Watson Pharmaceuticals is looking to market a generic version of a postmenopausal osteoporosis treatment.

The generic drug maker said its subsidiary, Watson Lavs, has filed an abbreviated new drug application with the Food and Drug Administration for risedronate sodium delayed-release tablets in the 35-mg. strength. The drug is a generic version of Atelvia, which is manufactured and distributed by Warner Chilcott.

October 17, 2011

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

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.

October 7, 2011

Watson Pharmaceuticals is looking to become the first to market a generic version of a painkiller made by Pfizer, the drug maker said Friday.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Watson Pharmaceuticals is looking to become the first to market a generic version of a painkiller made by Pfizer, the drug maker said Friday.

Watson said it filed a regulatory approval application with the Food and Drug Administration for morphine sulfate and naltrexone hydrochloride extended-release capsules in the 30-mg/1.2-mg, 50-mg/2-mg, 60-mg/2.4-mg, 80-mg/3.2-mg and 100-mg/4-mg strengths. The drug is a generic version of Embeda, made by Pfizer subsidiary King Pharmaceuticals.

September 27, 2011

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

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.

September 7, 2011

The Generic Pharmaceutical Association has named Ralph Neas as its new president and CEO, the group said Wednesday.

WASHINGTON — The Generic Pharmaceutical Association has named Ralph Neas as its new president and CEO, the group said Wednesday.

Neas, currently president and CEO of the National Coalition on Health Care, replaces Kathleen Jaeger, who stepped down as president and CEO of GPhA in May 2010 after eight years with the organization. The GPhA said it planned to spend September introducing Neas to stakeholders in a broad outreach effort.

August 12, 2011

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

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.

August 10, 2011

The Food and Drug Administration has granted tentative approval to a generic cholesterol drug made by Watson Pharmaceuticals, the company said Wednesday.

MORRISTOWN, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has granted tentative approval to a generic cholesterol drug made by Watson Pharmaceuticals, the company said Wednesday.

Watson announced the tentative approval of Watson's rosuvastatin zinc tablets in the 5-mg, 10-mg, 20-mg and 40-mg strengths. The drug is a generic version of AstraZeneca's Crestor. Tentative approval means that the drug meets the FDA's conditions for approval, but the agency can't allow it to be marketed because patents covering the branded version have yet to expire.

July 29, 2011

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

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.

July 28, 2011

Generic drug maker Watson Pharmaceuticals has launched a generic version of a contraceptive made by Duramed Pharmaceuticals, Watson said Thursday.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Generic drug maker Watson Pharmaceuticals has launched a generic version of a contraceptive made by Duramed Pharmaceuticals, Watson said Thursday.

Watson announced the launch of Amethia (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol [0.15 mg/0.03 mg] and ethinyl estradiol [0.01 mg]) after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit denied Duramed’s request for a temporary injunction; a patent infringement lawsuit that Duramed filed against Watson remains pending.

July 26, 2011

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

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.

July 25, 2011

Watson Pharmaceuticals is hoping to be the first to market a generic version of a GlaxoSmithKline drug for men with an enlarged prostate, Watson said.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Watson Pharmaceuticals is hoping to be the first to market a generic version of a GlaxoSmithKline drug for men with an enlarged prostate, Watson said.

Watson announced that it filed a regulatory approval application to market a generic version of GSK’s Jalyn (dutasteride and tamsulosin hydrochloride) capsules, a treatment for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia in men with enlarged prostates.

July 14, 2011

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.

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. 

July 8, 2011

Watson Pharmaceuticals has filed with the Food and Drug Administration for regulatory approval for a drug to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, the company said Thursday.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Watson Pharmaceuticals has filed with the Food and Drug Administration for regulatory approval for a drug to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, the company said Thursday.

Watson said it submitted its application for lisdexamfetamine dimesylate capsules, a generic version of Shire’s Vyvanse.

June 27, 2011

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

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.

June 23, 2011

Watson Pharmaceuticals plans to expand its manufacturing and research and development plant in Salt Lake City, the drug maker said.

SALT LAKE CITY — Watson Pharmaceuticals plans to expand its manufacturing and research and development plant in Salt Lake City, the drug maker said.

The $44 million expansion of the plant will include retrofitting about 20,000 sq. ft. of space and the construction of about 17,000 additional sq. ft. The expansion of the plant, which makes transdermal patches and topical gels, is expected to include the addition of about 300 new employees over the next three to five years.

June 17, 2011

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

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.

June 15, 2011

Watson Pharmaceuticals has filed a regulatory approval application with the Food and Drug Administration for a generic drug for eye disease, the company said Tuesday.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Watson Pharmaceuticals has filed a regulatory approval application with the Food and Drug Administration for a generic drug for eye disease, the company said Tuesday.

Watson is seeking approval for olopatadine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution in the 0.2% strength. The drug, used to treat itching in the eye resulting from allergic conjunctivitis, is a generic version of Alcon’s Pataday.

June 7, 2011

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.

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.

June 7, 2011

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic contraceptive made by Watson Pharmaceuticals, the company said Tuesday.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic contraceptive made by Watson Pharmaceuticals, the company said Tuesday.

Watson announced the approval of levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets in the 0.09-mg/0.02-mg strength.

The drug is a generic version of Pfizer’s Lybrel, which had sales of slightly less than $12 million during the 12-month period that ended in April, according to IMS Health.