SmithKline Beecham/Texas Bio argatroban

Executive Summary

SmithKline will launch anticoagulant argatroban without a separate brand name. The Texas Biotechnology product was approved by FDA June 30 for prevention and treatment of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia under the name Acova; the original trade name Novastan was rejected by FDA as too similar to Immunex' Novantrone, and SB determined that Acova also raised a potential trademark conflict (1"The Pink Sheet" July 10, p. 4). The decision to launch the product using only the generic name followed "extended discussions with FDA," Texas Biotechnology said. "Ultimately, we wanted a name that physicians would readily recognize, as well as one that would allow us to get to market as soon as possible," SB said