NACDS Marketplace In Brief
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
Dr. Reddy's readies OTC omeprazole launch: Dr. Reddy's prepares to launch its omeprazole 20.6 mg OTC proton pump inhibitor, the equivalent to AstraZeneca's Prilosec OTC, by the end of July. Milan Kalawadia, associate director of the Hyderabad, India-based firm's North American investor relations, did not comment on which retailers will carry the product, but said it will sell in 14-, 28- and 42-count blister packs, the same as the branded product. At the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Marketplace trade show in Boston June 30, Dr. Reddy's senior director of OTC marketing, John Segura, said the firm is "looking forward to" the launch after getting "both FDA approval and the resolution of a lawsuit" to get there. FDA approved Dr. Reddy's abbreviated new drug application June 5 and a court ruled against AstraZeneca's patent-infringement challenge to Dr. Reddy's private-label product (1"The Tan Sheet" March 23, 2009). A final decision is pending on AstraZeneca's appeal of the ruling, but Dr. Reddy's plans to launch the product. "While any launch prior to a final decision is technically at risk, we are confident that we do not infringe any patents asserted against us," Kalawadia said