Gabapentin Generics: Pfizer’s Greenstone Captures 23% Of Market
This article was originally published in The Pink Sheet Daily
Executive Summary
As of Oct. 12, Teva held a 45.5% generic gabapentin share based on sales to large purchasers while Alpharma held 23.5% and Greenstone 23%, Teva says in court filings. Teva’s customers include CVS and McKesson; Greenstone is selling to Cardinal, Caremark and Medco.
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Pfizer's Greenstone division held nearly a quarter of the generic gabapentin market share four days after the launch of AB-rated versions of Neurontin , Teva said in court filings. Teva held a 45.5% share of generic gabapentin sales on Oct. 12. Alpharma's Purepac division had a 23.5% share; Greenstone had 23%, Teva said in documents filed in D.C. federal court. Teva's filing cites market shares based on sales to large purchasers. Purepac, Teva and Greenstone launched generic versions of Pfizer's epilepsy agent within hours of each other on Oct. 8. Both the Purepac and Teva launches are "at risk" (1 (Also see "Purepac, Teva Launch Neurontin Generics; Pfizer's Greenstone Unit Follows" - Pink Sheet, 8 Oct, 2004.)). According to the court documents, Teva's customers for generic gabapentin include Walgreens, CVS, McKesson, Wal-Mart, Albertson's, Eckerd, HEB, Brooks, AmerisourceBergen and Walgreens. CVS' initial purchase from Teva totaled almost $2.5 mil., while McKesson's initial purchase was just shy of $1.7 mil. Other initial purchases were: Albertson's, $891,336.96; Eckerd, $575,432.64; Walgreens, $408,156.48; and AmerisourceBergen, $31,864.56. Greenstone's customers include Cardinal, Caremark, Rite Aid, Optisource, Harvard and Medco, according to Teva's court filings. Alpharma's customers include Kroger, AmerisourceBergen, ANDA, Ahold, Express Scripts, Kaiser and D&K, the filings indicate. The market share numbers were filed by Teva in connection with a request for a temporary restraining order to halt sales of Greenstone's generic gabapentin capsules and tablets. Purepac holds 180-day marketing exclusivity for the capsules, but Teva was allowed to enter the market immediately pursuant to an agreement between the two companies. Greenstone announced its launch after Teva came to market. D.C. federal Judge Reggie Walton denied Teva's request for a TRO on Oct. 13. The request was part of Teva's ongoing lawsuit challenging FDA's refusal to prohibit the marketing of "authorized" generics during an ANDA first-filer's exclusivity. A court filing by Pfizer suggests the company has high expectations for retaining gabapentin market share now that Neurontin is facing generic competition. In an affidavit, Greenstone VP & General Manager William Kennally said that if Greenstone is able to sell gabapentin capsules and tablets during the first filer's exclusivity period, "I believe that Greenstone will capture at least 50% of sales in the first 180 days and generate revenues of at least $400 mil." - Sue Sutter |