Generics

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Total spending on U.S. medicines increased 1% on a real per capita basis in 2013, while the use of healthcare services overall rose for the first time in three years, according to a new report issued today by the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics.

PITTSBURGH — Mylan announced that it has launched eszopiclone tablets in 1 mg, 2 mg and 3 mg form. The drug — which is used for the treatment of insomnia — is the generic version of Lunesta from Sunovion Pharmaceuticals.

Mylan received final approval from the Food and Drug Administration for its abbreviated new drug application. Eszopiclone tablets had sales in the U.S. of approximately $851.8 million for the 12 months ending Dec 31, 2013, according to IMS Health.

PEAPACK, N.J. — Greenstone, a generic pharmaceutical subsidiary of Pfizer, announced the introduction of amlodipine besylate/atorvastatin calcium tablets to its roster of products. The drug is the authorized generic versions of Caduet.

DUBLIN — Actavis on Tuesday announced that it has entered into an agreement with Mylan and Famy Care to settle all outstanding patent litigation related to Mylan's generic version of Generess FE (norethindrone, ethinyl estradiol and ferrous fumarate chewable tablets).

Under the terms of the agreement, Actavis will grant Mylan a license to market its generic version of Generess FE under its pending abbreviated new drug application beginning on April 1, 2015.

JERUSALEM — Teva Pharmaceutical Industries announced the launch of a generic equivalent to Lunesta (eszopiclone tablets) in 1-,2- and 3-mg form in the United States. The drug is used to treat insomnia.

Lunesta tablets, which are marketed by Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, had annual sales of $852 million in the United States as of December 2013, according to IMS data.

PITTSBURGH — Mylan on Friday confirmed that a federal district court has granted its request to enforce a settlement agreement between Endo Pharmaceuticals and Mylan settling patent litigation in connection with Mylan's filing of an abbreviated new drug application with the Food and Drug Administration for frovatriptan succinate tablets, 2.5 mg. This product is the generic version of Frova, which is used to treat acute migraine headaches in adults. 

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — NCPDP, the not-for-profit pharmacy standards development organization, on Wednesday announced the availability of a patient safety white paper that provides specific industry guidance for standardizing the dosing designations and labeling of oral liquid medications. 

WASHINGTON — Ian Read, chairman and CEO of Pfizer, Inc, was elected chairman of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America Friday at the trade association’s annual meeting. Also elected were Kenneth Frazier, chairman, president and CEO of Merck, as chairman-elect of the PhRMA board of directors, and George Scangos, CEO of Biogen Idec, as board treasurer.

Read succeeds Robert Hugin, chairman and CEO of Celgene Corp., as PhRMA’s chairman.