Ranbaxy to collaborate with Teva on generic Lipitor in US?
pharmafile | November 7, 2011 | News story | Manufacturing and Production, Sales and Marketing | Lipitor, Pfizer, Ranbaxy, Teva
Israeli drugmaker Teva Pharmaceutical could get an unexpected boost from an earlier-than-expected launch of its generic version of Pfizer’s cholesterol drug Lipitor in the US, if rumours of a deal with Ranbaxy Laboratories are confirmed.
Daiichi Sankyo subsidiary Ranbaxy has 180 days of exclusivity for generic Lipitor (atorvastatin) in the US when the patent for the blockbuster drug expires on November 30, under the terms of an agreement signed with Pfizer in 2008.
There have been persistent rumours however that quality control and compliance problems at some of Ranbaxy’s manufacturing facilities could compromise its ability to launch the generic on schedule, and meet the expected demand for the generic and force it to seek out a partner for the drug.
These have been denied in the past by Daiichi Sankyo chairman Tsutomo Une, although a string of news reports now suggest that Teva is on the brink of announcing a manufacturing and distribution alliance for generic atorvastatin.
If confirmed, the news will be a huge boost for Teva, whose last set of financial results was let down by a major (48%) contraction in US turnover thanks in part to a relatively low level of new generic launches there in recent months.
Teva has already launched generic Lipitor in the UK and Canada, although it reached a settlement with Pfizer last month that put a halt to sales in the UK until May 2012.
Pfizer recorded Lipitor sales of $2.6 billion in the third quarter, down 2% as a result of competition from other statins and the onset of generic competition in markets such as Canada and Spain.
Teva has previously estimated that its generic atorvastatin could bring in $1.5 billion in its first six months on the market.
Phil Taylor
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