Generics

NEW YORK — Hetero is at the center of two patent litigation suits for attempting to market generic versions of Viagra and Nexium, according to published reports.

CHADDS FORD, Pa. — Profits for Endo Pharmaceutical Holdings rose to $54.6 million during second quarter 2011, up 6% from $51.5 million in second quarter 2010, the drug maker said.

Sales for the quarter were $607.5 million, compared with $396.5 million in second quarter 2010. Sales of branded drugs were $398.3 million, an 8% increase over last year, which the company attributed to better sales of the pain drug Opana ER and the joint pain drug Voltaren Gel.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic chemotherapy drug made by Hospira, the drug maker said.

Hospira announced the approval of gemcitabine injection in the 200-mg, 1-g and 2-g formulations and plans to launch the drug in September. The drug is a generic version of Eli Lilly's Gemzar.

Various versions of the drug had sales of $750 million in 2010, according to Hospira.

MANCHESTER, N.H. — Boston Therapeutics is seeking approval for a generic version of a pill for Type 2 diabetes, the drug maker said.

Boston Therapeutics announced that it had filed an application with the Food and Drug Administration for chewable metformin tablets. The drug is a version of Bristol-Myers Squibb's Glucophage.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has reorganized the Office of Generic Drugs in an effort to improve efficiency, according to an internal memo.

The new organizational scheme will add a new division to the bioequivalence program called Division of Bioequivalence II and a new chemistry division, Division of Chemistry IV.

NEW YORK — The world's top-selling drug may become available over the counter, if its manufacturer has its way, according to published reports.

The New York Times reported that Pfizer may be looking for Food and Drug Administration approval for an OTC switch for Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium), a cholesterol-lowering medication. The Times quoted an unnamed source as providing the information, though Pfizer declined to comment.

PHILADELPHIA — A generic pharmaceutical company announced that its CFO has resigned.

Lannett said that Keith Ruck has exited the company to pursue other interests. The company expects to name a successor soon.

“During his tenure, Keith improved the performance of our accounting and financial reporting team,” Lannett president and CEO Arthur Bedrosian said. “In addition, he was instrumental in upgrading our internal controls and business processes. I would like to thank Keith for his hard work and wish him well in his future endeavors.”

MUMBAI, India — Indian generic drug maker Wockhardt will sell its nutrition business to France's Danone, the company said Tuesday.

The deal is worth $355 million, according to published reports, and includes brands like Farex, Dexolac, Nusobee and Protinex.

Wockhardt said the deal was part of a strategy to consolidate and rationalize its core operations and focus on its pharmaceutical business.