Pfizer’s Camptosar Faces Generic Competition

Pfizer will see its $556 million Camptosar franchise eroded with the recent FDA approval of multiple generic versions of the chemotherapy agent.

Following the brand drug’s patent expiration last month, Actavis, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and APP Pharmaceuticals received approvals for their versions of irinotecan HCl injection and expect to begin shipping their products immediately.
 
Camptosar is indicated as a component of first-line therapy in combination with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. The drug also is indicated for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer whose disease has recurred or progressed following initial fluorouracil-based therapy.