Generics

CHADDS FORD, Pa. Endo Pharmaceuticals will acquire generic drug maker Qualitest Pharmaceuticals for $1.2 billion, Endo said Tuesday.

Endo said the purchase of privately owned Qualitest would expand its offering of branded drugs, generics, devices and services in areas such as pain and urology. Qualitest is the sixth largest generic drug company in the United States, as measured by prescriptions filled.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario The merger between Valeant Pharmaceuticals International and Biovail is complete, the two companies said Tuesday.

 

Shareholders of both companies have approved the merger, worth more than $3 billion, originally announced in June.

 

 

The combined company will take Valeant’s name.

 

Many generic drug companies have long marketed branded drugs on the side, but lately, some branded drug companies have sought to enter the generics business as well. One of those companies is Meda Pharmaceuticals, the U.S. subsidiary of Swedish drug maker Meda AB. Drug Store News recently interviewed John White, Meda’s senior director of marketing.

Drug Store News: What gave Meda the idea of pursuing generics?

AMITYVILLE, N.Y. Hi-Tech Pharmacal will market a generic version of a drug used to treat opioid dependence, the company said Monday.

 

Hi-Tech announced that it would market buprenorphine hydrochloride in the 2-mg and 8-mg strengths through its Midlothian Labs division. The drug is in the form of a tablet placed under the tongue.

 

 

The tablets are a generic version of Reckitt Benckiser’s Subutex, which had sales of $75 million during the 12-month period ended in June, according to IMS Health.

 

ALLEGAN, Mich. Perrigo has filed for regulatory approval of a generic version of an over-the-counter medication for frequent heartburn, prompting a lawsuit from the branded version’s manufacturer.

The company announced Friday that it had filed for approval for omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate in the 20 mg/1,100 mg strength. The medication is a generic version of Zegerid OTC, made by Schering-Plough HealthCare, a subsidiary of Merck.

 

JERUSALEM Teva filed a complaint against a generic drug maker this week, asserting four patents for its multiple sclerosis drug are being infringed.

PITTSBURGH A U.S. District Court has blocked Canadian generic drug maker Apotex from selling generic versions of an antidepressant drug.

 

Generic drug maker Mylan said Tuesday that it had obtained a temporary restraining order from the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey prohibiting Apotex from selling generic versions of the drug Paxil CR (paroxetine hydrochloride), an extended-release formulation of GlaxoSmithKline’s Paxil.

 

 

GLASGOW, Ky. Amneal Pharmaceuticals will have a grand opening of its newly expanded distribution and sales center next week, the generic drug maker said Monday.

 

Amneal announced the grand opening of the center in Glasgow, Ky., set to take place Monday. Representatives from the municipal and state governments, the Tennessee Valley Authority, state legislators and possibly members of Congress are expected to attend.