- An appeals court rules that Actavis' (ACT -1%) plan to "hard switch" Namenda (memantine HCl) to the more expensive Namenda XR violates U.S. antitrust law. The company attempted to halt the distribution of original Namenda, which faced looming generic competition, in 2014 and convert the market to the newer, patent-protected and more expensive XR product.
- New York Attorney General Eric Scheiderman sued the company to prevent it from pulling the lower priced Namenda from the market. A federal court agreed so Actavis appealed. The appeals court ruling requires Actavis to continue supplying the cheaper medicine until 30 days after its patent expires on July 11, a modest victory for NY.
- The company says the market prefers the convenience of once daily Namenda XR versus twice daily for the original version. Over 40% of users have already transitioned to the new product.
- Namenda is indicated for the treatment of moderate-to-severe dementia of the Alzheimer's type.
- Previously: Judge orders Actavis to keep selling Alzheimer's drug (Dec. 12, 2014)