teaser
Actavis Group, the international generic pharmaceuticals company, today announced the launch of Irinotecan, a cancer drug, in the UK, France, Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Sweden on 13 and 14 July.
The patents expired on 12 and 13 July, respectively. Actavis was first to market in all 6 countries.
Irinotecan Hydrochloride concentrate for solution for infusion is the generic equivalent to Pfizer’s Camptosar and is available in 40mg/2ml and 100mg/5ml vials. Irinotecan is used in the treatment of patients with metastatic carcinoma of the colon or rectum.
Annual sales of Irinotecan Hydrochloride Injection in the EU were approximately EUR350 million for 2008, according to IMS Health data.
Actavis and its third party sales division, Medis, have now launched Irinotecan in more than 20 countries. Irinotecan Actavis is produced by Actavis Romania.
Actavis entered the market for hospital products with the acquisition of Sindan in Romania in 2006. The company’s focus in this field is on oncology products, with a growing range of anti-infectives, local anaesthetics and analgesics.
The company’s Romanian facility, which has now accomplished over 85 product and market launches in 2009, is approved by FDA, EMEA and the Japanese regulatory authorities.
