Stage Set For First Generic Zyprexa Rivals In Japan
This article was originally published in Scrip
Executive Summary
Eli Lilly & Co.'s Zyprexa (olanzapine) is to be opened up to its first generic competition in Japan in June, following the approval of a large batch of generic versions by the country's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.The planned launches will put at risk what is the US firm's top selling drug in Japan, which has been its main growth driver over recent years. Used mainly in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, Lilly's Japanese subsidiary said last year that sales of the atypical antipsychotic rose by 4% in 2014 to JPY59.9bn ($525m) at reimbursement prices.