LAKE FOREST, Ill., Aug. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Hospira, Inc. (NYSE:
HSP), the world leader in generic injectable pharmaceuticals, today
announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of
gemcitabine injection, a solution form of the drug. The solution
presentations include 200 mg, 1 gm and 2 gm with a concentration of
38 mg/ml. The oncology medication had U.S. sales of more than
$750 million in 2010, led by Eli
Lilly's Gemzar®. Hospira expects to launch the product
in early September.
Hospira is the first company to offer gemcitabine in a solution
formulation for the U.S. market. The solution formulation is
designed to improve pharmacist convenience and handling safety. Its
concentration is the same as the reconstituted strength of the
available "freeze-dried" form. The solution versions, however,
eliminate the need for reconstitution, improving workflow.
"Hospira is excited to offer U.S. pharmacists a solution form of
gemcitabine that reduces preparation time," said Thomas Moore, president, U.S., Hospira.
"Hospira's generic gemcitabine solution gives the medical community
access to a lower-cost, more convenient offering of this key
oncology drug."
The approval follows the November
2010 launch of Hospira's lyophilized, or freeze-dried
formulation, gemcitabine HCL for injection – the first 2 gm
presentation of the product – and the July
2011 launch of the standard freeze-dried formulation in 200
mg and 1 gm presentations. With the previous launches of the
freeze-dried presentations, the company will offer the generic
oncology drug in a range of strengths and forms for use.
Hospira's specialty injectable pharmaceuticals (SIP) offering
includes approximately 200 generic injectable drugs in many dosages
and formulations. In addition, many of its products are
available in popular differentiated presentations, several of which
are proprietary, such as ADD-Vantage™ drug delivery
system and iSecure™ prefilled syringes. Therapeutic
segments include analgesia, anesthesia, anti-infectives,
cardiovascular, oncology, emergency and other areas. Hospira also
has robust pipelines of both generic and biosimilar drugs.
About Hospira
Hospira, Inc. is a global specialty pharmaceutical and
medication delivery company dedicated to Advancing
Wellness™. As the world leader in specialty generic
injectable pharmaceuticals, Hospira offers one of the broadest
portfolios of generic acute-care and oncology injectables, as well
as integrated infusion therapy and medication management solutions.
Through its products, Hospira helps improve the safety, cost and
productivity of patient care. The company is headquartered in
Lake Forest, Ill., and has
approximately 14,000 employees. Learn more at www.hospira.com.
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 --
A Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995, including statements regarding the growth opportunities for
generic specialty injectable products. Hospira
cautions that these forward-looking statements are subject to
risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ
materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements.
Economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory, legal,
technological and other factors that may affect Hospira's
operations and may cause actual results to be materially different
from expectations include the risks, uncertainties and factors
discussed under the headings "Risk Factors" and "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations" in Hospira's latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and
subsequent Forms 10-Q, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, which are incorporated by reference. Hospira
undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to
forward-looking statements as the result of subsequent events or
developments.
SOURCE Hospira, Inc.