Actavis announces generic version of Crestor agreement

Actavis has revealed it has reached an agreement with AstraZeneca with regard to the launch in 2016 of a generic version of Crestor tablets.

The pharmaceutical company announced it has come to a settlement with the firm to resolve outstanding patent litigation related to the generic version of rosuvastatin calcium five, ten, 20 and 40 mg tablets that it has developed, in addition to its rosuvastatin zinc alternate salt product.

As a result of a decision being reached, Actavis is now permitted to launch its generic version of crestor 67 days before the expiration of pediatric exclusivity – July 8th 2016 – in addition to paying a fee that works out as 39 per cent of net sales to AstraZeneca.

Paul Bisaro, president and chief executive officer of Actavis, said the deal means customers will be able to benefit from an earlier launch of a rosuvastatin calcium product.

Mr Bisaro noted the arrangement also "eliminates ongoing litigation and uncertainty of marketplace acceptance of a non-generically substitutable product if Actavis had proceeded to launch the alternate product".