ALLEGAN, Mich., June 7 (UPI) -- Perrigo said Wednesday it has signed a deal with Dexcel Pharma for over-the-counter marketing of Dexcel's generic Prilosec OTC.
The company said the agreement gives it exclusive marketing and distribution rights of the pending generic drug, based on AstraZeneca's heartburn drug Prilosec, in the United States.
Perrigo said it would share in the costs and potential benefits associated with the commercialization of the new product.
The firm estimated sales of Prilosec OTC at approximately $500 million through food, drug and mass merchandise retailers for the 12 months ended April 16, quoting statistics from Information Resources Inc. and ACNielsen.
Perrigo noted that Dexcel, based in Israel, has filed a new drug application with the Food and Drug Administration for approval of omeprazole 20 mg tablets.
After being notified of the filing, AstraZeneca, the maker of Prilosec OTC, last month filed patent-infringement lawsuits against Dexcel in the U.S. District Court of Delaware and in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Perrigo said.
The pending lawsuit stays the FDA for 30 months from approving Dexcel's generic drug.
