Plan B unprotected?
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
Emergency contraceptive Plan B (levonorgestrel) helped drive Barr Pharmaceuticals' proprietary product sales up 12 percent to $438 million in 2007, executives said during the Montvale, N.J.-based firm's earnings call Feb. 28. While Barr would not break out sales for the "morning after pill," market information provider Information Resources, Inc. reports the drug drew $75.3 million in OTC sales in 2007, excluding sales at Wal-Mart, Club stores and C-Stores. CEO Bruce Downey says that while Barr has no patent on Plan B and exclusivity protection runs out in August 2009, the firm has a life cycle management strategy in place. Prescription products Adderall IR and Seasonique extended-cycle oral contraceptive also helped boost sales, the company says in a release. Barr expects Plan B, the contraceptive ParaGard and Seasonique to take its proprietary business "to new heights in 2008," projecting a 20 percent increase in sales. The firm posted overall 2007 revenue of $2.5 billion and net earnings of $128.4 million...