Generics

NEW YORK — A possible pill mix-up has prompted Pfizer to recall more than two dozen lots of a prescription contraceptive drug, the drug maker said.

Pfizer announced the voluntary nationwide recall of 14 lots of Lo/Ovral-28 (norgestrel and ethinyl estradiol) tablets and 14 additional lots of the drug's generic version. Pfizer manufactured and packaged the drugs, while Akrimax Pharmaceuticals commercialized them, and they were sold under the Akrimax brand.

AMITYVILLE, N.Y. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic drug for anxiety made by Hi-Tech Pharmacal, the drug maker said Tuesday.

The FDA approved Hi-Tech's lorazepam oral concentrate in the 2-mg-per-mL strength, a generic version of Roxanne Labs' Intensol.

Branded and generic versions of the drug had sales of $10 million in 2011, according to IMS Health.

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ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A goal to standardize risk evaluation and mitigation strategies and modernize the U.S. drug safety system in a proposed reauthorization of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act has drawn support from the country's main chain retail pharmacy lobby.

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores submitted written testimony Tuesday ahead of a congressional hearing on the reauthorization of PDUFA, originally enacted in 1992.

PHILADELPHIA — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic drug for obesity made by Lannett, the drug maker said Tuesday.

Lannett announced the approval of phentermine hydrochloride capsules in the 15-mg strength.

Various versions of the drug had sales of $11 million at average wholesale price in 2011, according to Wolters Kluwer.

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PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Watson Pharmaceuticals is planning to open a global research and development technology center.

The center will be a 32,000-sq.-ft., 50-acre complex consisting of lab, production and office space. The drug maker said it primarily will be used for developing generic pharmaceutical products, in particular for inhalation technology and respiratory products, with the ability to conduct formulation development and analytical testing.

PHILADELPHIA — Lannett announced that it has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration to market its version of a hypertension treatment.

The drug maker said its abbreviated new drug application for hydrochlorothiazide capsules in the 12.5-mg strength was approved. The drug is a generic version of Watson Pharmaceuticals' Microzide capsules.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Watson Pharmaceuticals and Mallinckrodt have reached a settlement concerning a painkiller for which the former had sought Food and Drug Administration approval.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — A federal court has stopped an injunction that would have prevented drug maker Watson Pharmaceuticals and partner company Amphastar Pharmaceuticals from marketing or selling a generic version of a blood-thinning drug.