Generics

PITTSBURGH — Generic drug maker Mylan is looking for a bigger place to call home, according to published reports.

The Pittsburgh Business Times reported that Mylan was planning to move from its current 96,000-sq.-ft. headquarters in Southpointe, a development in the Pittsburgh suburb of Cecil Township, to a 250,000-sq.-ft. building nearby.

The new headquarters is under construction, the newspaper reported.

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.

HYDERABAD, India — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic anticoagulant drug made by Dr. Reddy’s Labs and Alchemia.

Dr. Reddy’s and Brisbane, Australia-based Alchemia announced the FDA approval of fondaparinux sodium injection in the 2.5 mg/0.5 mL, 5 mg/0.4 mL, 7.5 mg/0.6 mL and 10 mg/0.8 mL strengths. Alchemia owns the patents covering the process for synthesis of fondaparinux.

JERUSALEM — Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has completed its acquisition of Japan’s third-largest generics company, Teva said.

The Israeli drug maker, the world’s largest maker of generic drugs, announced that it had acquired effectively all the outstanding shares of Taiyo Pharmaceutical Industry Co. for $934 million.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Watson Pharmaceuticals last week confirmed that the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has affirmed the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida's February 2011 decision that Watson's generic versions of Mucinex, Mucinex D and Mucinex DM extended-release products do not infringe Reckitt Benckiser’s U.S. Patent No. 6,372,252. 

Watson stated it is continuing to seek final approval of the products from the Food and Drug Administration. 

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — Generic drug maker Amneal has launched three new liquid drugs, the company said Monday.

SHIRLEY, N.Y. — American Regent has launched a generic drug for relieving pressure inside the eye, the company said.

American Regent announced the availability of latanoprost ophthalmic solution in the 0.005% strength.

The drug is a generic version of Pfizer’s Xalatan and is used to treat such conditions as glaucoma and ocular hypertension.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Watson Pharmaceuticals has filed with the Food and Drug Administration for regulatory approval for a drug to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, the company said Thursday.

Watson said it submitted its application for lisdexamfetamine dimesylate capsules, a generic version of Shire’s Vyvanse.