Generics

HAWTHORNE, N.Y. — Israeli generic drug maker Taro Pharmaceutical Industries got a big boost in sales and profits during second quarter 2011, according to a financial report released Tuesday.

Taro reported sales of $111.6 million, a 14.2% increase, compared with second quarter 2010. In addition, profits were $35.7 million, a $19.3 million increase over the same period last year.

CINCINNATI — Prasco Labs has contracted to sell an authorized generic version of a painkiller made by Shionogi, Prasco said Monday.

Under the agreement between the two companies, Prasco will market and distribute an authorized generic version of Ponstel (mefenamic acid) capsules in the 250-mg strength.

Health care is like precision engineering; tweaking one element ever so slightly can mean the difference between a healthy life and an early death or, in the case of drug spending, between nearly $50,000 and just north of $1,000.


PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Watson Pharmaceuticals is hoping to be the first to market a generic version of a GlaxoSmithKline drug for men with an enlarged prostate, Watson said.

Watson announced that it filed a regulatory approval application to market a generic version of GSK’s Jalyn (dutasteride and tamsulosin hydrochloride) capsules, a treatment for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia in men with enlarged prostates.

ALLEGAN, Mich. — Perrigo on Thursday announced that it has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration to market a cinnamon-flavored, over-the-counter coated nicotine polacrilex gum USP in 2-mg and 4-mg strengths.

The product will be marketed under store-brand labels and is comparable with GlaxoSmithKline's Nicorette Cinnamon Surge coated gum, a stop-smoking aid.

PHILADELPHIA — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug for managing obesity made by Lannett.

Lannett announced the approval of phentermine hydrochloride capsules in the 37.5-mg strength, a generic version of Teva’s Adipex-P.

Phentermine hydrochloride capsules in the 37.5-mg strength had sales of about $8.8 million during the 12-month period ended in May, according to Wolters Kluwer.

AMITYVILLE, N.Y. — Hi-Tech Pharmacal has introduced levofloxacin oral solution in the 25-mg/mL strength, the drug maker said Tuesday.

The drug will be available in 480-mL, 200-mL and 100-mL sizes in order to allow pharmacists to tailor inventory to store volume. Hi-Tech was granted tentative approval in April.

The drug is a generic version of Johnson & Johnson’s pneumonia treament Levaquin.

WASHINGTON — New bipartisan legislation introduced to the Senate last week seeks to offer states incentives to use generic drugs by allowing states to temporarily keep a portion of the savings.

Senators Scott Brown, R-Mass.; Ron Wyden, D-Ore.; and John McCain, R-Ariz., introduced the Affordable Medicines Utilization Act of 2011, saying that the bill would encourage states to take advantage of cost-saving generic drugs.