Teva Pharmaceutical Industries got the FDA's thumbs up for its version of the Procter & Gamble drug Actonel. The osteoporosis remedy has annual U.S. sales of $1 billion, and Teva will get first-out-of-the-gate marketing exclusivity for 180 days.
Not that Teva will sell the drug yet. It and P&G have been in a dispute over Actonel's patent. The case went to trial in late 2006 but has dragged on, with no decision reached. As part of that litigation, Teva agreed to give P&G 30 days notice before it markets Actonel; that notice hasn't yet been given.
- see Teva's press release
- read the report from the Cincinnati Business Journal