Teva Petitions FTC to Reopen and Modify Decision and Order in Case Involving Watson Pharmaceuticals

Federal Trade Commission press release -------- The Federal Trade Commission is currently accepting public comments on an application by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. requesting that the Commission reopen and modify its decision and order in connection with the 2012 merger of Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Actavis Inc.The Commission alleged that the merger risked lessening future competition in the U.S. markets for a number of generic drugs, including the generic version of the abuse-resistant opioid painkiller sold under the brand name Embeda. The 2012 decision and order required Watson and Actavis to supply Embeda to Pfizer Inc. for a period not to exceed four years after Pfizer’s relaunch of Embeda, which occurred in January 2015. At the time of the 2012 decision and order, Pfizer did not have the capability to independently manufacture Embeda. The decision and order also required Watson and Actavis to assist in the transfer of technology for manufacturing Embeda to Pfizer or a third party. In 2016, Teva acquired the generic pharmaceutical business of Allergan plc, assumed Actavis’s rights and obligations under the Embeda supply agreement, and continued Watson’s plans to develop a generic version of Embeda. To learn more click on the picture below to read the release.