LAKE FOREST, Ill., Dec. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hospira, Inc. , a leading global hospital products company, today announced the launch of ondansetron injection. The medication is the generic version of GlaxoSmithKline's Zofran(R), which posted 2005 U.S. sales of more than $600 million. Ondansetron is an antiemetic used for the prevention of nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy and anesthesia/surgery. It is currently available from Hospira in a 4 mg single-dose vial and a 40 mg multiple-dose vial.
"Ondansetron represents the most widely used antiemetic in its class, and we will offer the generic version in a broad number of injectable delivery systems," said Thomas G. Moore, vice president and general manager, Specialty Injectable Pharmaceuticals, Hospira. "This generic medication will provide customers with a less costly alternative to help improve the quality, safety and affordability of care."
Hospira will offer the only generic injectable ondansetron product portfolio that includes vials as well as a premix and a proprietary syringe (both still pending review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration). The iSecure(TM) syringe is a prefilled, disposable, ready-to-use syringe that will provide convenience and efficiency for the administration of injectable medications. To help hospitals reduce medication errors, Hospira also labels all of its injectable products with unit-of-use bar codes.
Hospira is the leading U.S. supplier of generic injectable pharmaceuticals, offering more than 130 generic injectable products in more than 600 dosages and formulations. The company's broad portfolio includes products for cardiovascular, anesthesia, anti-infectives, analgesics, emergency and other therapeutic areas.
Generic specialty injectables, including biosimilars, will continue to be a large growth opportunity for Hospira. More than $5 billion worth of proprietary, small-molecule pharmaceuticals will face patent expiration in the United States by the end of the decade. Additionally, biosimilars represent a large, emerging market with a growing number of patents for proprietary biopharmaceuticals expiring. Overall, the company today has more than 40 generic products in development.
Indications and Safety Information
Ondansetron is indicated for the prevention of postoperative and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Ondansetron is contraindicated for patients known to have hypersensitivity to the drug. Ondansetron is generally well-tolerated. Adverse events may include headache, constipation, diarrhea, dizziness, musculoskeletal pain, drowsiness, arrhythmias, flushing and transient blurred vision. For full prescribing information, contact Hospira Medical Communications at (800) 615-0187.
About Hospira
Hospira, Inc. is a global specialty pharmaceutical and medication delivery company dedicated to Advancing Wellness(TM) by developing, manufacturing and marketing products that help improve the productivity, safety and efficacy of patient care. With 70 years of service to the hospital industry, Hospira's portfolio includes one of the industry's broadest lines of generic acute-care injectables, which help address the high cost of proprietary pharmaceuticals; integrated solutions for medication management and infusion therapy; and the leading U.S. injectable contract manufacturing business. Headquartered north of Chicago in Lake Forest, Ill., Hospira has approximately 13,000 employees and 14 manufacturing facilities worldwide. Hospira's news releases and other information can be found at http://www.hospira.com/.
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 --A Caution Concerning
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the growth opportunities for generic specialty injectable products and biosimilars. Hospira cautions that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from expectations include risks and uncertainties relating to the ability to develop, obtain regulatory approval for, and market and sell generic specialty injectable and biosimilar products; and the risks, uncertainties and factors discussed under the headings "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in Hospira's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2005, and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Hospira undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking statements as the result of subsequent events or developments.
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