Cobalt Pharmaceuticals receives Notice of Compliance from Health Canada to market Atorvastatin Calcium Tablets

May 20 2010

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE: WPI) today announced that its subsidiary Cobalt Pharmaceuticals has received a Notice of Compliance from Health Canada to market Atorvastatin Calcium Tablets in the 10, 20, 40 and 80 mg strengths.  Watson has initiated shipments of this product.

Atorvastatin Calcium is the generic equivalent to Pfizer's LIPITOR® tablets and is indicated to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, certain kinds of heart surgeries, and chest pain in patients with heart disease or several common risk factors for heart disease.  LIPITOR® had total Canadian sales of approximately $1 billion for the twelve months ending March 2010, according to IMS Health.

"We are very pleased that our Cobalt organization will be adding this important therapy to its expanding portfolio of products," said Paul Bisaro, President and CEO of Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc.  "Cobalt is well positioned to maximize the launch of the largest product to be offered as a generic in the history of the Canadian generic pharmaceutical industry."

SOURCE Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc.