Teva, Momenta, Novartis sales and marketing update

Novartis’ Sandoz Inc. generics unit launched once-daily Glatopa glatiramer acetate for multiple sclerosis (MS) in the U.S. after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) invalidated the last U.S. patent for Teva’s once-daily Copaxone. Glatopa is the first FDA-approved generic version of Copaxone. The wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) of Glatopa is $173.13 per 20 mg syringe. Each 20 mg syringe of Copaxone has a WAC of $203.68. Sandoz developed Glatopa in partnership with Momenta, which is eligible to receive a $10 million milestone from Sandoz upon the first sale of Glatopa.

Teva said it will seek an en banc review of the decision by CAFC. In January, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a previous CAFC decision to invalidate Teva’s patent and remanded the case to the lower court, barring generic competitors from entering the market (see BioCentury, Jan. 26). ...