Biovail to market Cardizem

Drug Store News, Feb 19, 2001

Biovail Corp. has purchased the rights to market the Cardizem line of calcium channel blockers in North America from Aventis. Biovail will pay Aventis $409.5 million. Aventis will continue to manufacture the Cardizem line.

The Cardizem product line includes Cardizem CD (diltiazem) for hypertension and angina pectoris, Cardizem SR sustained-release capsules for hypertension and Cardizem tablets for angina, as well as Cardizem injectable, Cardizem monovial and Cardizem lyo-ject syringe, all for treatment of atrial fibrillation.

Biovail said it plans to add up to 500 sales representatives from its current 300. The U.S. sales force will focus on expanding prescriptions for existing products. It will also begin marketing Cardizem XL, which is expected to be launched in the first half of 2002.