Wyeth reports additional subpoenas in Protonix probe
This article was originally published in Scrip
Executive Summary
Wyethhas received additional subpoenas for documents from a US grand jury in Massachusetts investigating promotional practices and the pricing of its proton pump inhibitor Protonix (pantoprazole), the company said in an SEC filing. The full nature of the investigation by the US Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts remains unknown. Wyeth said that several current and former employees had testified before the grand jury this year. The company has been hit by launches of generic versions of Protonix in the US, which it is opposing. Last December, Teva Pharmaceutical Industrieslaunched its version "at risk" and this was followed by a launch bySun Pharmaceutical Industries; Wyeth's own generic has not offset the harm. In the SEC filing, Wyeth noted that it continues a patent infringement battle, and that a trial will begin no earlier than the fourth quarter of 2009.