Generic competition and safety warnings cast mist over Horizant's horizons
This article was originally published in Scrip
Executive Summary
FDA approval of Horizant (gabapentin enacarbil) offers patients with postherpetic neuralgia an improved dosing regimen over available treatment options. However, the Xenoport drug faces fierce competition in the US, where it will be marketed by GlaxoSmithKline, from generic gabapentin and the once daily gabapentin formulation Gralise from Depomed. Moreover, safety warnings surrounding driving impairments are likely to serve as a deterrent to prescribing.