Thursday, November 12, 2009

Generics Pressure Johnson & Johnson -- Motrin Anyone?


Johnson & Johnson’s Invega (paliperidone) is no Dorothy Hamill poised to skate away with the gold anytime soon. The heralded successor to the schizophrenic drug Risperdal took a tumble after flubbing the double lutz. Third-quarter U.S. revenue fell 16.4 percent to $61 million, and Invega slowly wobbled away out of the rink – but not out of sight of prying eyes: providers voicing skepticism that the drug was nothing more than an expensive “me-too” Risperdal — and health insurers restricting its usage and reimbursement (Tier-3, non-preferred status on the drug formulary plans of Kaiser and United).

Generic challenges to the marketing exclusivity of the attention deficit disorder medicine Concerta (methylphenidate), Aciphex (rabeprazole) for heartburn and acid reflux, and Levaquin (levofloxacin), an antibiotic for urinary tract infections means repleneshing a once-robust portfolio will take more effort than a missed “toe off” jump.

Read How the Venerated J&J Management Team Plans to Turn Dust into Gold at BNET Pharma….

Editor David J Phillips does not hold a financial interest in any stocks mentioned in this article. The 10Q Detective has a Full Disclosure Policy.

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