Cholesterol Drugs: November 2006 Archives

Unlike the Lipitor case where Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd has been facing severe legal hurdles, a US Court of Appeal has upheld a district court's ruling granting Ranbaxy a 180-day exclusivity on the 80 mg strength of the anti-cholesterol drug, Simvastatin (the generic form of Merck's blockbuster drug, Zocor).

"We are pleased with this decision, for both Ranbaxy and the generic pharmaceutical industry, as it preserves the exclusivity of innovative generic pharmaceutical companies who expend significant effort and finances to introduce affordable generic medicines to the US healthcare system,'' said Jay Deshmukh, Senior Vice-President of Global Intellectual Property, Ranbaxy.

Cholesterol lowering 'statin' drugs are cost effective in far more people than current guidelines recommend and should be considered for a wider range of people, say researchers in a study published online by the BMJ today.

Large trials have shown that lowering blood cholesterol levels with statins greatly reduces major vascular events, such as heart attacks and strokes, in people at high risk.

And research published in 2005 from the largest of those trials (the heart protection study) showed that when cheaper generic versions are used, several years of statin treatment is cost effective for a wide range of people with vascular disease or diabetes.

Moving further into the cholesterol management market, Abbott Laboratories said this morning it will buy a New Jersey drugmaker for $3.7 billion in cash, or $78 a share.

Kos Pharmaceuticals, Inc. of Cranbury, N.J. is a pharmaceutical company developing and marketing various drugs to treat 'chronic cardiovascular, metabolic and respiratory diseases,' in a growing $20 billion lipid management market, Abbott said in a statement this morning.

'Kos Pharmaceuticals is an excellent strategic fit for Abbott, both scientifically and commercially,' said Abbott chairman and chief executive Miles White. 'This acquisition expands Abbott's presence in the lipid management market and will provide several on-market and late-stage pipeline products. Kos also complements our existing commercial and research and development expertise, and increases our R&D spending capacity.'