Monday, July 6, 2009

FDA Approves Generic Version of Schering-Plough's Norcuron


The Wall Street Journal is reporting this morning that (as of June 17, 2009) the FDA had approved an ANDA submitted by Sun Pharmaceuticals, to sell a generic version of Norcuron, Schering's branded muscle relaxant. Teva, Watson, Hospira and Bedford all already market versions of this chemical compound, Vecuronium Bromide:

. . . .Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to sell generic vecuronium bromide injections, the regulator's Web site showed Monday.

The drug maker will sell the muscle relaxant injection - a generic version of Schering-Plough Corp.'s (SGP) Norcuron - in 10 milligram and 20 mg doses. . . .

I have been unable to source, thus far, a reliable 2008 revenue figure for Schering's Norcuron. If I run across one, I'll post it here. Given that at least four others are making a generic version of this drug, my suspicion is that Norcuron is less than $200 million in annual revenue to Kenilworth, at this point.

Interestingly however, Norcuron is manufactured in the new plant in Oss, the Netherlands, where Schering's Bridion (sugammadex) is also being manufactured. Bridion, of course, undoes what Norcuron does.

No comments: