Generics

JERUSALEM — Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has launched generic versions of two blood pressure drugs made by Sanofi, Teva said Monday.

Teva announced the launch of irbesartan and irbesartan/hydrochlorothiazide tablets, respectively generic versions of Avapro and Avalide. Avapro has annual sales of $464 million, and Avalide has annual sales of $124 million, according to IMS Health. Both drugs are used to treat high blood pressure, also known as hypertension.

WASHINGTON — The controversial merger between Express Scripts and Medco was completed Monday morning, according to a press release issued by both Express Scripts and the Federal Trade Commission.

JERUSALEM — Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has launched an authorized generic version of Cephalon's Provigil, used for conditions like shift work sleep disorder and narcolepsy, the company said Friday.

Teva acquired Cephalon for $6.8 billion in October 2011. An authorized generic is the branded drug marketed under its generic name at a reduced price.

Provigil had annual sales of about $1.1 billion, according to IMS Health.

CARLISLE, Pa. — Giant-Carlisle will work with the Drug Enforcement Administration to sponsor several medication take-back events next month, the company said.

The chain, owned by Netherlands-based Royal Ahold and officially known as Giant Food Stores, will work with the DEA and local law enforcement agencies as part of the national drug take-back initiative on April 28, collecting unwanted medications at several of its stores.

NEW YORK — Three companies have launched generic versions of a psychiatric drug made by AstraZeneca following a court decision turning down the Anglo-Swedish drug maker's request for an injunction against the Food and Drug Administration's approval of the generics.

Dr. Reddy's Labs, Teva and Mylan announced Wednesday the launch of their respective versions of quetiapine fumarate tablets, generic formulations of AstraZeneca's Seroquel, in strengths ranging from 25 mg to 400 mg.

NEW YORK — A federal court has dismissed a case that drug maker AstraZeneca filed against regulators regarding a drug used to treat psychotic and bipolar disorders, the company said Monday.

SUPPLIER NEWS — A drug under development by Forest Labs and Pierre Fabre has been shown to reduce symptoms of major depressive disorder, the companies said. New York-based Forest and Paris-based Pierre Fabre announced results of a phase-3 trial of levomilnacipran, saying the drug showed reductions in symptoms as early as one week after treatment was started. The companies expect results of another phase-3 trial of the drug this spring.


Increases in the prices of prescription drugs have far outpaced the rate of general inflation over the years, as increases in the prices of branded and specialty drugs have offset decreases in the prices of generics, according to a new report by AARP’s research arm.


The study, conducted by AARP’s Public Policy Institute, found that the cumulative change in drug prices from 2005 to 2009 was almost double the rate of inflation. As a result, the average annual cost of drug therapy continued to rise.