Alli available soon?
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
GlaxoSmithKline appears confident that issues raised in FDA's "approvable" letter for the weight-loss drug Alli (orlistat 60 mg) can be resolved swiftly. The firm "expects to respond to [FDA's April 6 approvable letter] shortly and to receive approval for the product" in the second half of 2006, the firm announces in a first-quarter earnings release April 27. The company previously has stated that it is aiming to make an OTC version of the weight-loss drug, sold by prescription as Xenical, available by mid 2006. The firm reported a strong first quarter during an earnings call, with Consumer Healthcare sales increasing 6% to $1.34 bil. ($1.75=£1) over the prior-year period. The increase was driven by sales growth in Europe and the international market, as sales in North America dropped 2%. Oral care sales grew 7% to $423.5 mil., driven primarily by Sensodyne's 21% sales growth; Aquafresh remained level at $127.75 mil. OTC drug sales increased 3% to $654.5 mil. for the quarter, while smoking cessation product revenues grew 5% to $162.7 mil...