The Federal Trade Commission Tuesday approved Watson Pharmaceutical's $1.9 billion acquisition of Andrx Corp. with the condition that the companies sell off overlapping drug lines to keep prices competitive.

In a statement issued today federal regulators said the deal "would have led to competitive problems in the markets for 13 generic drug products."

Watson will have to end its marketing agreement with Interpharm to market generic ibuprofen tablets, since Andrx sells the same drug. If not, Watson's market share would increase from 12 to 39 percent, which the FTC found unacceptable.

Also, Andrx must sell its rights to market the generic diabetes medication glipizide to Actavis Group, to prevent Watson from gaining an 80 percent market share.

Finally, Andrx will give up rights to 11 oral contraceptives from Israeli drug company Teva Pharmaceuticals.

NEWS ARCHIVES

2008

• September
• August
• July
• June
• May
• April
• March

2007

• April
• March
• February
• January

2006

• December
• November
• October
• September
• August
• July
• June
• May
• April
• March
• February
• January

2005

• December
• November
• October
• August
• June
• April
• March
• February

2004

• December

NEWSLETTER SIGNUP