Generics

PITTSBURGH The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic arthritis treatment made by Mylan, the drug maker said Wednesday.

The FDA approved nabumetone tablets, a treatment for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, in the 500 mg and 750-mg strengths.

MORRISTOWN, N.J. Generic drug maker Watson Pharmaceuticals hopes to be the first to market a version of a kidney disease treatment made by Genzyme, Watson said Monday.

Watson said it filed a regulatory approval application with the Food and Drug Administration for sevelamer carbonate for oral suspension. The drug is a generic version of Genzyme’s Renvela, used to control serum phosphorus in patients with chronic kidney disease who are on dialysis.

PRINCETON, N.J. Sandoz has launched a generic drug for treating migraine headaches, the generics arm of Swiss drug maker Novartis said Monday.

Sandoz launched naratriptan hydrochloride tablets in the 2.5-mg strength, a generic version of GlaxoSmithKline’s Amerge. The tablets are used for treating acute migraine attacks in adults with or without visual disturbances that occur before the onset of the headache, also known as aura. Studies have indicated that around 12% of Americans have migraine attacks.

COLUMBUS, Ohio Roxane Labs announced Thursday the launch of two new generic drugs.

The Columbus, Ohio-based generics subsidiary of German drug maker Boehringer Ingelheim, launched naratriptan tablets in the 1-mg and 2.5-mg strengths, and anastrozole tablets in the 1-mg strength.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. Changing generic substitution laws in favor of less-restrictive regulations could save states struggling to pay for increasing healthcare costs through their Medicaid programs more than $100 million over the next several years, according to a new CVS Caremark study.