Re: Generic Oxy discontinued?

On Fri, 28 Mar 2008 10:48:22 -0700, Jana Peterson
<jpete@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I don't think it is an urban legend. I think the maker of the brand name
has sued regarding the generic and won. I have heard from my Dr. and
Pharmacist that the generic will be discontinued sometime soon.
I imagine the insurance companies will start covering the brand name
better when/if there is no other choice, and eventually the patent will
run out of time...again. I don't take it but if I did, I wouldn't be too
worried about the switch.

You misunderstood. The Generic will NOT be discontinued.

An extended-release formulation of oxycodone, OxyContin, was first
introduced to the US market by Purdue Pharma L.P. in 1996. It has
multiple patents for their drug OxyContin, but has recently been
involved in a series of ongoing legal battles deciding on whether or
not these patents are valid.

On June 7th, 2005, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal
Circuit upheld a decision from the previous year that some of Purdue?s
patents for OxyContin could not be enforced. This decision allowed and
led to the immediate announcement from Endo Pharmaceutical Holdings,
Inc. that they would begin launching a generic version of all four
strengths of OxyContin.

Purdue, however, had already made negotiations with another
pharmaceutical company (IVAX Pharmaceuticals) to distribute their
brand OxyContin in a generic form. This contract was severed, and
currently Watson Pharmaceuticals is the exclusive U.S. distributor of
the generic versions of OxyContin Tablets. The agreement stipulates
that "Purdue will manufacture and supply oxycodone HCI
controlled-release tablets to Watson, which will market, sell, and
distribute the authorized generic product in 10, 20, 40, and 80
milligram dosages in the United States".

On February 1, 2006 the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal
Circuit issued a revised decision that affirmed-in-part,
vacated-in-part, and remanded-in-part their prior decision. The court
concluded "The trial court's judgment that the patents-in-suit are
unenforceable due to inequitable conduct is vacated, and the case is
remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. The
trial court's judgment of infringement is affirmed." Purdue Pharma LP
has since announced resolution of its infringement suits with Endo
(August 28, 2006), Teva (October 19, 2006), and IMPAX (May 25, 2007).
Endo and Teva each agreed to cease selling generic oxycontin. IMPAX
negotiated a temporary, and potentially renewable, license.

Unfortunately the supplies of the Teva brand in this country must have
been stockpiled to the ceilings in the drug warhouses as it is
currently the only Generic that most Pharmacies carry.

Understand better? It is an Urban Legend that there will be no
Generic Oxycontin. It isn't an Urban Legend that certain people know
not from which they speak, this includes Dr's.
--
"Before all else, be armed" -- Machiavelli
.

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