aaiPharma clips Andrx's generic Prilosec plans

Drug Store News, August 20, 2001 by Jennifer E. Smith, Diane West

Generic drug maker Andrx Corp.'s plans to launch a generic version of AstraZeneca's top-selling heartburn medicine, Prilosec (omeprazole), early next year stalled in the wake of another patent challenge. aaiPharma, maker of two components used to make Prilosec's active ingredient omeprazole, received federal patent protection for the ingredients July 17.

If AstraZeneca proves it holds the license to these ingredients, it can try for further patent protection on Prilosec, whose patent expires in October. Wall Street analysts are taking the threat seriously, as Andrx's stock price fell more than 10 percent upon aaiPharma's announcement.