Generics

JERUSALEM — Teva Pharmaceuticals on Tuesday announced the introduction and availability of Raloxifene hydrochloride tablets, USP. This product is AB rated and bioequivalent to Evista tablets.  

Raloxifene hydrochloride tablets, USP are indicated for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. 

Teva was first to file, making the product eligible for 180 days of marketing exclusivity.

PEAPACK, N.J. — Greenstone announced the introduction of Piroxicam capsules to its generic pharmaceutical product line. The drug is offered in dosage strengths of 10 mg and 20 mg, and is the generic equivalent to Feldene.

Piroxicam is intended for the relief of the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. This new, authorized generic adds to Greenstone’s growing line of products, and is backed by the distribution and customer service support of Pfizer Inc., the company said.

HYDERABAD, India — Dr. Reddy's Labs announced that it has launched amlodipine besylate and atorvastatin calcium tablets, a generic version of Caduet.

The Caduet tablets brand and generic had sales in the United States of approximately $163 million MAT for the most recent 12 months ended January 2014, according to IMS Health.

MOUNT PROSPECT, Ill. — According to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, a Missouri bill would require health benefit plans to reimburse pharmacies when they dispense less than a 30-day supply for the purpose of synchronizing a patient’s chronic medications. 

PRINCETON, N.J. — Sandoz announced the U.S. launch of lansoprazole capsules amoxicillin capsules, USP, and clarithromycin tablets, USP, the generic version of Prevpac.

The drug is used to eliminate the H. pylori infection in patients with duodenal ulcer disease. It's comprised of amoxicillin and clarithromycin, which are antibiotic medicines, as well as lansoprazole, a proton pump inhibitor that helps decrease production of excess stomach acid, the company said.

ATLANTA — Getting a flu vaccine reduces a child’s risk of flu-related intensive care hospitalization by 74%, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study published Thursday in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Governor Mike Pence earlier this week signed legislation designed to create a pathway for the substitution of interchangeable biologic medicines, according to published reports. 

The bill allows a pharmacist to substitute an interchangeable biosimilar product for a prescribed biological product if certain conditions are met. It requires the board of pharmacy to maintain a website that lists the biosimilar biological products that are determined to be interchangeable. 

The specific conditions include: 

PITTSBURGH — Mylan on Monday announced the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia ruled in favor of upholding the validity of patents protecting Perforomist (formoterol fumarate) Inhalation Solution. Mylan previously sued Teva alleging that Teva's abbreviated new drug application for this product infringed four Mylan patents covering Perforomist.  

The court's decision prevents Teva's ANDA, which has yet to receive a tentative approval from the Food and Drug Administration.