Watson Pharmaceuticals scored a victory in its effort to branch out of its generic drug business and launch new branded therapies with today's announcement that it has won regulatory approval to market Rapaflo. The oral therapy is designed to treat symptoms of an enlarged prostate, a condition that afflicts a majority of men over the age of 60 and some 90 percent of all males by age 85. Analysts say the drug could gin about $35 million in sales in 2010. The total market for BPH drugs in the U.S. is about $2 billion.
While that's not much money in the drug industry, it does signify a success for Watson, which has been developing branded drugs as competition in the generic drug business continues to heat up.
"Rapaflo's approval is the most important milestone for the company's brand division thus far," said Paul Bisaro, Watson's chief executive officer, in a statement. Watson licensed the North American rights to the drug from Kissei.
- read the Watson release
- read the AP report