Par begins shipment of osteoporosis generic

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J. Generic drug maker Par Pharmaceuticals has begun shipments of a generic drug for treating osteoporosis.

Par announced Tuesday that it had begun shipping calcitonin-salmon nasal spray, which is used to treat postmenopausal osteoporosis in women more than five years after menopause.

The drug is a generic version of Novartis’ Miacalcin, which had sales of $112 million in 2008, according to IMS Health data.