Watson submits Crestor copycat
pharmafile | October 28, 2010 | News story | Sales and Marketing | AstraZeneca, Crestor, Watson, generic, patent
Watson Pharmaceuticals is seeking to launch a generic version of AstraZeneca cholesterol blockbuster Crestor, exploiting weaknesses in its patent.
The US-based generics firm has applied for a new drug application for its rosuvastatin zinc tablets, a new salt version of AstraZeneca’s Crestor, with the US regulator.
In July, a number of generics companies were blocked from marketing their own version of the drug by a US judge in Delaware as the drug still has three years left on its patent.
AstraZeneca has filed a legal suit against Watson in the same court in Delaware seeking to prevent Watson from commercialising its product before it expires.
AstraZeneca is hoping that the court will rule in its favour again and has asked for Watson’s application to be blocked until 30 March, 2013, or until “final resolution of the matter before the court”.
Crestor is indicated, as an addition to diet, to lower LDL cholesterol, raise HDL cholesterol, and slow the progression of atherosclerosis.
IMS Health figures for the 12 months ending 30 June, 2010 show that Crestor reached $3.5 billion in sales in the US, making it the third biggest seller for the Anglo-Swiss pharma firm.
Ben Adams
Related Content

NICE recommends Benralizumab for Rare Form of Vasculitis
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended AstraZeneca’s benralizumab (Fasenra) as …

NICE approves AstraZeneca’s dual immunotherapy for advanced liver cancer
AstraZeneca has received a positive recommendation from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence …

Purpose and people: the enduring power of brand and the evolution of employer identity
Two decades ago, terms like purpose and people were rarely at the forefront of branding …






