Actavis addresses urgent need for thyroid treatments in Japan

Actavis has highlighted its success in providing emergency supplies of its levothyroxine tablet treatment for thyroid problems to earthquake-stricken Japan.

The pharmacy supplier was able to deliver ten million tablets within 20 days of receiving a request from its joint venture partner Aska, the production facility of which was damaged in the natural disaster on March 11th 2011.

Faced with a potential shortage of the drug, Aska submitted the request for help to Actavis on March 14th, which required both companies to apply to the Japanese government for emergency approval of the generic product.

It was able to secure this ratification – as well as accreditation of its Barnstaple production facility – on March 31st, allowing the levothyroxine to be dispatched to Tokyo by April 4th.

Sara Vincent, Actavis' UK managing director, said the company will "continue our support as required until the Aska site is back up and running".

In February 2011, the firm expanded its product range with the launch of Anastrozole Actavis, a generic version of AstraZeneca's breast cancer therapy Arimidex.