Generics

NEW YORK — While the financial burden that families face due to prescription drugs has declined, costs nevertheless remain a challenge for many of them, according to a new study by nonprofit research organization Rand Corp.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Subsidiaries of Watson Pharmaceuticals and Johnson & Johnson have settled a lawsuit filed by the latter when Watson attempted to market a generic version of one of its contraceptive drugs.

DUBLIN, Ohio — Cardinal Health was granted a temporary restraining order Friday against the Drug Enforcement Administration's suspension order of its Lakeland, Fla., distribution center.

A preliminary injunction hearing is currently scheduled for Feb. 13.

ALLEGAN, Mich. — New product sales and the acquisition of Paddock Labs prompted second-quarter net sales to jump 17% to $838 million for Perrigo for fiscal year 2012, the drug maker said.

For the company's consumer healthcare products segment, net sales rose 10% to $471 million, compared with the year-ago period, thanks to new product sales of $26 million and the diabetes care category, along with an increase in sales of existing products of $20 million.

NAPLES, Fla. — In the five years since he has led the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, president and CEO Steve Anderson has operated under a sound policy; so simple, it is the advice he gives his own children: “We don’t start any fights — but we sure are going to finish them.” On Monday, Anderson and NACDS chairman Bob Loeffler, who also serves as H-E-B chief administrative officer, told NACDS Regional Chain Conference attendees here, that now they are going to take that fight to the PBM lobby.

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, England — Pregnant women with diabetes are almost four times more likely to have a baby with a birth defect than women without the condition, and the likelihood is linked to the mother's glucose level, according to a new study released by Newcastle University Monday.

The study, led by researchers at Newcastle University and the Regional Maternity Survey Office and funded by Diabetes UK, suggests that as many as 1-in-13 deliveries to women with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes involves a major congenital anomaly, also known as a birth defect.

PITTSBURGH — Mylan has completed its acquisition of two skin drugs from Valeant Pharmaceuticals, the generic drug maker said Monday.

Mylan announced that it had acquired the regulatory approval applications for generic clindamycin phosphate and benzoyl peroxide gel, a generic version of Valeant's BenzaClin, and a license to manufacture and market fluorouracil cream in the 5% strength, a version of Valeant's Efudex.

NORTH WALES, Pa. — Teva Pharmaceuticals has launched a generic version of a psychiatric drug, the company said Friday.

Teva announced the launch of olanzapine orally disintegrating tablets in the 5-mg, 10-mg, 15-mg and 20-mg strengths in blister packs of 30.

The drug is a generic version of Eli Lilly's Zyprexa Zydis, used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

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