Generics

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — Sagent Pharmaceuticals has launched a generic version of a chemotherapy drug, the company said Thursday.

Sagent announced the launch of irinotecan injection, a generic version of Pfizer's Camptosar, in latex-free, preservative-free, single-dose vials.

Various versions of the drug had sales of about $28 million during the 12-month period ended in March, according to IMS Health.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved generic versions of one of the country's top-selling drugs made by eight different companies, the agency said Thursday.

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — Amneal Pharmaceuticals is adding blackberry flavoring to a generic diabetes drug following feedback from customers, the company said Wednesday.

Amneal announced the changes to its metformin hydrochloride immediate-release tablets in the 500-mg, 850-mg and 1,000-mg strengths, designed to cover up the smell of metformin.

Medication nonadherence costs the U.S. healthcare system about $290 billion per year, according to New England Healthcare Institute. That big and scary number — the kind whose sheer enormity can make one’s eyes glaze over — is now even bigger.


SUPPLIER NEWS — Watson has announced its intention to acquire Actavis, the company said. Following news reports that the U.S.-based generic drug maker would acquire Switzerland-based Actavis, Watson announced that it would buy the latter for $5.6 billion. News media had reported that the deal would be worth $5.9 billion, while there had been estimates in March that Watson would pay up to $7.3 billion. 


BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart and Sam's Club will be among the first retailers to offer a generic version of an antiplatelet drug.

Clopidogrel, the generic version of Plavix, will be available at both banners pharmacies on May 19. The patent for the Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi drug officially expires Thursday.

GURGAON, India — First-quarter consolidated sales for generic drug maker Ranbaxy Labs totaled $736 million, the company reported last week.

The company said the quarter's sales marked a 55% increase over the year-ago period, when sales totaled $474 million. U.S. sales for the company totaled $416 million, up from $170 million in first quarter 2011. Ranbaxy attributed its sales boost to the launch of generic Lipitor (atorvastatin), as well as sales of generic Caduet (amlodipine and atorvastatin).

NEW YORK — Legislation proposed in the House of Representatives would speed up Food and Drug Administration approval of knock-off versions of vaccines and other biologics while requiring the agency to conduct more inspections of drug factories overseas, according to published reports.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that the bills, sponsored by Republican Rep. Tim Murphy of Pennsylvania, would create an expedited FDA approval pathway for follow-on versions of biogenetic medications such as vaccines and drugs made from human tissue and plasma.