Eli Lilly drafts in Prasco to market Evista generic

Generic drug maker Prasco Laboratories has agreed to market and distribute an authorised generic version of Eli Lilly’s Evista (raloxifene hydrochloride) in the US.

Ohio-based Prasco said yesterday, April 2, that it will start shipping its version of the osteoporosis drug in 60 mg tablets immediately.

Prasco’s president and chief operating officer, David Vucurevich, said: “Evista represents our third Eli Lilly and Company Authorised Generic (AG) product launched, and we are very pleased to broaden that relationship.”

He added: “AG products allow patients to continue their therapy using the same brand with which they are accustomed, but at a generic cost savings.”

Evista is used to prevent the development of osteoporosis in women. In 2007 it was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for reducing the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women at a higher risk of developing the disease.

Its worldwide sales totalled more than $1 billion in 2013. Three patents covering the drug expired last month.