Generics

CLEVELAND — ECRM posted a memorial to founder Charlie Bowlus on its website over the weekend and provided details regarding a celebratory gathering here a week from Monday.

NEW YORK — Pfizer announced that the patent for its popular erectile dysfunction treatment was upheld in court.

The drug maker said that the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia concluded that Pfizer's patent for Viagra was valid and enforceable and prevents generic drug maker Teva from marketing its version of the drug until October 2019. Pfizer noted that litigation on the same patent remains pending against other generic companies, but no trials are scheduled in those other cases.

The court's decision, however, is subject to appeal by Teva.

NEW YORK — Mandatory mail seems to cause some patients to prematurely discontinue therapy, especially among those patients without previous mail-service pharmacy experience. At least, that’s what a recent study on mandatory mail suggested.

The CVS Caremark-funded study, “Adherence to Medication Under Mandatory and Voluntary Mail Benefit Designs,” recently was published in the American Journal of Managed Care.

PITTSBURGH — Generic drug maker Mylan has begun shipping a drug for enlarged prostate, the company said Friday.

Mylan announced the launch of alfuzosin hydrochloride extended-release tablets in the 10-mg strength.

The drug is a generic version of Sanofi's Uroxatral, which had sales of about $241 million during the 12-month period ended in June, according to IMS Health.

PHILADELPHIA—Lannett has started shipping a painkiller product approved by the Food and Drug Administration in June, the company said.

Lannett announced the shipment of morphine sulfate oral solution. Lannett sought FDA approval using a 505(b)(2) new drug application. Sales of morphine sulfate oral solution at average wholesale price were $31.7 million during the 12-month period ending in June, according to Wolters Kluwer.

BOCA RATON, Fla. — The Chain Drug Consortium on Thursday dispensed a formal letter to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission expressing its opposition to the proposed merger of pharmacy benefit management companies Express Scripts and Medco Health Solutions.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Watson Pharmaceuticals will build a drug warehouse and distribution center in Mississippi, the drug maker said Thursday.

Watson said its Anda Distribution division would the $23.5 million, 234,000-sq.-ft. center in Olive Branch, Miss. The plant will employ 70 workers.

ALISO VIEJO, Calif. — Drug maker Avanir Pharmaceuticals has filed suit against two generic drug makers seeking to launch versions of a drug used to treat pseudobulbar affect, which causes sudden, involuntary episodes of laughing and crying, and occurs secondary to numerous other neurological conditions.

Avanir filed the suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware against Par and Actavis, which had filed for regulatory approval of Nuedexta (dextromethorphan hydrobromide and quinidine sulfate).