Pharmacy News Article

2009 JUN 28 - (NewsRx.com) Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE:WPI), a leading specialty pharmaceutical company, confirmed that its subsidiary, Watson Laboratories, Inc. - Florida, has filed an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration seeking approval to market its guaifenesin pseudoephedrine HCI extended-release 600mg/60mg and 1200mg/120mg tablets prior to the expiration of patents owned by Reckitt Benckiser Inc. Watson Laboratories, Inc. - Florida's guaifenesin pseudoephedrine HCI extended-release tablet products are the generic versions of Reckitt Benckiser Inc.'s Mucinex(R) D product, which are indicated to help loosen phlegm (mucus) and thin bronchial secretions to rid the bronchial passageways of bothersome mucus and make coughs more productive. Watson Laboratories, Inc. - Florida previously filed ANDAs seeking approval to market generic versions of Reckitt Benckiser Inc.'s Mucinex(R) and Mucinex(R) DM products (see also Generics).

Reckitt Benckiser filed suit against Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Watson Laboratories, Inc. - Florida on June 5, 2009 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida seeking to prevent Watson from commercializing its products prior to expiration of U.S. patent numbers 6,372,252 and 6,955,821. Reckitt Benckiser's suit was filed under the provisions of the Hatch Waxman Act, resulting in a stay of final FDA approval of Watson Laboratories, Inc. - Florida's ANDA for up to 30 months or until final resolution of the matter before the court, whichever occurs sooner. Based on available information, Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. believes that Watson Laboratories, Inc. - Florida may be the first applicant to file an ANDA for a generic version of Mucinex(R) D and, should its product be approved, may be entitled to 180 days of generic market exclusivity.

For the twelve-months ended March 31, 2009, Mucinex(R) D products had total U.S. sales of approximately $62 million, according to IMS Health data.