More generics of J&J's ADHD med Concerta coming

Johnson & Johnson ($JNJ) continues to cut generics deals over its onetime blockbuster Concerta, as it does what it can to protect sales of the attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder drug.

Impax Laboratories ($IPXL) said today that it and its partner on the product, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries ($TEVA), agreed to drop their lawsuit against J&J subsidiary Alza in exchange for the right to start making a generic of the ADHD drug by July 14, 2013. Impax says generic Concerta is included in a strategic alliance it has with Teva. Once its application is approved by the FDA, Teva has the right to make a generic as well.

They are a bit late to the dance. Watson Pharmaceuticals ($WPI) and Johnson & Johnson reached an accord on Concerta in 2010. J&J permitted Watson to launch a generic version of the blockbuster ADHD drug last year if Watson agreed to allow J&J to supply the drug through 2014. The deal gives J&J a share of the revenues from generic Concerta, easing the pain of sales lost to generic competition.

Concerta brought in $1.4 billion in 2010, its last full year without generic competition. Drug Store News, citing Wolters Kluwer Health, says that combined branded and generic versions of Concerta had sales of about $1.2 billion during the 12-month period that ended in July.

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