First generic launch in antibiotic class and first to market
LAKE FOREST, Ill., June 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hospira, Inc. (NYSE: HSP), the world leader in generic injectable pharmaceuticals, today announced it has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for meropenem for injection, USP (I.V.) 500 mg and 1 g vials. The medication, a carbapenem that belongs to the beta-lactam class of antibiotics, is a generic version of AstraZeneca's Merrem® I.V. Sales of the name-brand product in the United States were approximately $200 million in 2009.
"This is the first generic carbapenem approved in the United States, and will help propel Hospira to a position of leadership in this category of antibiotics," said Thomas Moore, president, Hospira, U.S. Region. "Hospira is committed to continuing to reduce the cost of healthcare spending by providing savings with first-to-market generic launches."
Meropenem represents the first U.S. drug launch from Hospira's recent acquisition of the generic injectables business of Orchid Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. Beta-lactam antibiotics represent a class of drugs with a wide spectrum of antibacterial activity. The U.S. market value of beta-lactam molecules is more than $1 billion, based on 2009 sales, according to IMS Health.
Hospira's specialty injectable pharmaceuticals (SIP) offering includes approximately 200 generic injectable drugs in many dosages and formulations. In addition, many of its products are available in popular differentiated presentations, several of which are proprietary, such as ADD-Vantage™ drug delivery system and iSecure™ prefilled syringes. Therapeutic segments include analgesia, anesthesia, anti-infectives, cardiovascular, oncology, emergency and other areas. Hospira also has robust pipelines of both generic and biogeneric drugs.
About Hospira
Hospira, Inc. is a global specialty pharmaceutical and medication delivery company dedicated to Advancing Wellness™. As the world leader in specialty generic injectable pharmaceuticals, Hospira offers one of the broadest portfolios of generic acute-care and oncology injectables, as well as integrated infusion therapy and medication management solutions. Through its products, Hospira helps improve the safety, cost and productivity of patient care. The company is headquartered in Lake Forest, Ill., and has approximately 13,500 employees. Learn more at www.hospira.com.
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 -- A Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the growth opportunities for generic specialty injectable products. Hospira cautions that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Economic, competitive, governmental, legal, technological and other factors that may affect Hospira's operations and may cause actual results to be materially different from expectations include the risks, uncertainties and factors discussed under the headings "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in Hospira's latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Forms 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are incorporated by reference. Hospira undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking statements as the result of subsequent events or developments.
SOURCE Hospira, Inc.