BioCentury
ARTICLE | Company News

Teva sales and marketing update

April 9, 2012 7:00 AM UTC

Teva launched generic versions of cardiovascular drugs Avapro irbesartan and Avalide irbesartan/hydrochlorothiazide from Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE:BMY, New York, N.Y.) and Sanofi (Euronext:SAN; NYSE:SNY, Paris, France) in the U.S. The pharmas market Avapro and Avalide for hypertension, and market Avapro also to treat diabetic renal disease in patients with hypertension and Type II diabetes. Avalide is a combination of Avapro, an angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor (AGTR1) antagonist, and hydrochlorothiazide, a diuretic. Sanofi reported U.S. sales of €374 million ($484.4 million) for Avalide and Avapro in 2011. Bristol-Myers said the patent for the drugs expired last month.

In February, Sanofi said that the exclusivity loss of Avapro as well as fellow cardiovascular drug Plavix clopidogrel this year are expected to negatively affect 2012 business EPS by about €1.4 billion ($1.8 billion). ...