Content about Wyeth

A new report by Francesco International identified $35.7 billion worth of potential Rx-to-OTC switches in a wide range of indications, from hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder to high cholesterol and erectile dysfunction, and the Food and Drug Administration has been looking at ways technology and pharmacists could be employed to ensure that patients taking drugs new to the consumer health space take them appropriately

MUMBAI, India — A division of Pfizer is asserting that it incurred nearly $1 billion in damages related to the launch of generic versions of one of its drugs.

In a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey against Sun Pharmaceutical Industries and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals said it estimated that it suffered damages of $960 million from Sun's and Teva's launches of generic versions of the gastroesophageal reflux disease drug Protonix (pantoprazole).

TRENTON, N.J. — Six retailers on Wednesday filed suit naming Wyeth and Teva Pharmaceuticals as defendants and alleging that the defendants unlawfully delayed the entry of generic versions of Wyeth's antidepressant Effexor XR (venlafaxine). A summons was issued to Wyeth and Teva on Thursday.

The retailers include Ahold USA, H-E-B, Kroger, Safeway, Supervalu and Walgreens. The companies are suing for three-times damages plus attorneys fees.

Wyeth was acquired by Pfizer in October 2009.

SAN FRANCISCO — Drug Store News has learned that Tim Canning, president of McKesson’s Health Mart division, is leaving the company to take the position of SVP and chief marketing officer at Omnicare. The move is effective June 17.

“Tim has played an important role in advancing the success of McKesson’s retail independent pharmacy customers through his leadership of key solutions and programs, such as Health Mart,” noted a company representative.

HYDERABAD, India — Dr. Reddy's Labs has received regulatory approval from the Food and Drug Administration for generic versions of treatments for Alzheimer's disease, depression and breast cancer.

The drug maker said that the FDA approved donepezil hydrochloride tablets, a generic version of Pfizer and Eisai's Arciept, in the 5-mg and 10-mg strengths for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Both strengths will be available in 30-, 90- and 500-count bottles.

MORRISTOWN, N.J. — Actavis last week named Lisa Buono to lead its over-the-counter drug division as part of the company’s strategic expansion of the division.

As director of OTC, Buono will oversee the division’s day-to-day operations and will focus on identifying and capitalizing on new product opportunities. Actavis manufactures and distributes numerous nonprescription liquids, creams and ointments sold under the Actavis label and its customers’ own brands, as well as FeverAll brand acetaminophen suppositories.



McNeil Consumer Healthcare recently parlayed its Tylenol brand franchise into external analgesics to quite a bit of success. For the four weeks ended Dec. 26, 2010, Precise “from the makers of Tylenol” became the No. 3 best-selling heat patch, with $1.9 million in sales across food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart), according to Symphony­IRI Group. And its pain-relieving cream similarly broke in among the top-selling brands — No. 9 with $1.3 million in sales for the four-week period.

PITTSBURGH — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a treatment for gastroesphageal reflux disease made by a subsidiary of Mylan, the generic drug maker said Monday.

The FDA approved Matrix Labs’ pantoprazole sodium delayed-release tablets in the 20-mg and 40-mg strengths.

The drug is a version of Protonix DR, made by Wyeth, now part of Pfizer. Various versions of the drug had sales of around $1.7 billion during the 12-month period ended in September, according to IMS Health. The FDA also approved a version made by Dr. Reddy’s Labs on Friday.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Pfizer president and general manager for specialty care and oncology, Geno Germano, will deliver the “State of the Pharma/Biotech Industry Address” at the 2011 Armada Specialty Pharmacy Summit, Armada Health Care said Tuesday.

The summit, which will take place in Las Vegas in May, is in its seventh year and is expected to bring 1,500 participants representing 400 specialty healthcare organizations, including specialty pharmacy providers, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, wholesale distributors and others.

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Johnson & Johnson made its courtship with Dutch biotech company Crucell official by acquiring all of the company for $2.3 billion, the two companies said Wednesday.

In a deal that won the full support of Crucell’s management, J&J will pay $32.74 per share for the remainder of Crucell that it doesn’t already own; J&J indirectly controls around 18% of Crucell’s stock through a Dutch affiliate, while Delta Lloyd Asset Management, Robeco and the Van Herk Group control around 15.5%, according to published reports.

PURCHASE, N.Y. — A former Wyeth executive has been named PepsiCo's EVP global corporate affairs.

Tim Cost, who will report to PepsiCo chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi, officially will join the company Dec. 1. In the newly created position, Cost will be responsible for strengthening and protecting PepsiCo's corporate reputation and strategically aligning its communications, public policy, foundation, investor relations, global health and agricultural policy, and regulatory agendas.

PRINCETON, N.J. Sandoz has launched a generic antibiotic drug, the generics division of Swiss drug maker Novartis said Thursday.

Sandoz announced the launch of piperacillin and tazobactam for injection. The drug is used to treat moderate to severe infections of bacteria resistant to piperacillin alone but vulnerable to the combination of the two drugs.