Arimidex - Big Patent Expirations of 2010

Drug: Arimidex (anastrozole)
Company: AstraZeneca
Indication: Breast Cancer
Patent Expiration: Dec. 27, 2009/Pediatric Exclusivity through
June 27

Scoop: Arimidex is an adjuvant therapy for postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer. The blockbuster brought in $1.9 billion in 2009. The patent on this top-selling drug was set to expire in December, but AstraZeneca got a six-month extension of its exclusivity. A number of companies already have tentative approval for their generic versions of the drug, including Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Synthon, Roxane, Zydus, Stason, Watson Laboratories, Sandoz and Natco Pharma. The reissued '617 patent has pediatric exclusivity until June 27.