Generics

HOLZKIRCHEN, Germany — Sandoz has started a late-stage clinical trial of a biosimilar version of a drug used to treat autoimmune disorders, hoping the results will support its efforts to win regulatory approval in the United States and Europe.

Sandoz, the generics arm of Swiss drug maker Novartis, said it had started a phase-3 trial of biosimilar etanercept, a knock-off version of Amgen's Enbrel, used to treat chronic plaque-type psoriasis.

PRINCETON, N.J. — Sandoz has launched a generic topical drug for rosacea, the drug maker said Tuesday.

Sandoz, the generics division of Swiss drug maker Novartis, announced the launch of metronidazole 1% topical gel, calling it the first generic version of Galderma Labs' Metrogel. The drug is indicated for treating inflammatory lesions of rosacea, estimated to affect about 16 million Americans.

Metrogel had sales of about $110 million during the 12-month period that ended in April, according to IMS Health.

NEW YORK — A dramatic increase in the number of women dying from opioid painkiller overdoses has health officials alarmed.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Tuesday results of an analysis showing that nearly 48,000 women died of prescription painkiller overdoses between 1999 and 2010, with the rate of women dying this way in 2010 increasing more than five-fold during that time. The number of men who died from prescription painkiller overdoses in 2010 increased by 265% over 1999.

HYDERABAD, India — Dr. Reddy's Labs has launched a generic drug for treating epilepsy, the company said.

The Indian generic drug maker announced the launch of lamotrigine extended-release tablets in the 25-mg, 50-mg, 100-mg, 200-mg and 300-mg strengths. The drug is being distributed in bottle sizes of 30.

Lamotrigine extended-release tablets are a generic version of GlaxoSmithKline's Lamictal XR, branded and generic versions of which had sales of $300.5 million during the 12-month period that ended in April, according to IMS Health.

NEW YORK — A new law in Maine will allow residents of the state to buy drugs through mail-order from licensed pharmacies in other countries, according to published reports.

The Associated Press reported that the law, an amendment to the Maine Pharmacy Act, will allow Mainers to buy drugs through a Canadian mail-order program called CanaRx and licensed programs in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.

The AP reported that the bill became law without the signature of Gov. Paul LePage and will go into effect in 90 days.

DEERFIELD, Ill — Walgreens today announced its app is available for download on mobile phone devices across the Windows Phone 8 platform. A Windows 8 version for desktops and tablets is expected to become available at a later date.

Additionally, the company will soon release its QuickPrints API designed for Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — The U.S. healthcare system could avoid hundreds of millions of dollars in medical costs if medication adherence rates improved, according to the CVS Caremark "2013 State of the States: Adherence Report" released today.

NEW YORK — Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and Mylan have launched generic versions of Pfizer's Viagra in nearly a dozen European countries, the two companies said.

Teva, based in Jerusalem, announced the launch of generic sildenafil tablets in Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland, Austria, Belgium and Denmark. The company already markets generic versions of the erectile dysfunction drug in Spain and Canada.