Schering AG's Leukine may compensate for Yasmin generics, says Morgan Stanley.

Pharma Marketletter, August, 2003

Yasmin 30 (drospirenone and ethylestradiol), Schering AG's oral contraceptive, has provided significant revenue for the company since it was first approved in the USA May 2001; in 2002 the drug achieved sales of 152 million euros ($174 million) - double the previous year's figure (Marketletter February 10). A report by analysts at Morgan Stanley looks at the future impact of generic competition to the product and whether any possible loss of earnings may be compensated by revenue generated by Leukine (sargramostim), the company's recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, and its anticancer agent PTK787.

The report suggests that the stock market has, to date, underestimated the probability of generic competition to Yasmin, but that the market...