Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NASDAQ: TEVA) announced today that it has commenced commercial launch of both Irbesartan and Irbesartan-Hydrochlorothiazide Tablets, the Company's generic versions of Sanofi Aventis' high blood pressure treatments, Avapro® and Avalide® Tablets. The brand products had annual sales of approximately $464 million and $124 million, respectively, in the United States, based on IMS sales data.
As the first company to file Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDA) containing paragraph IV certifications for both of these products, Teva has been awarded a 180-day period of marketing exclusivity.