ROCHE TAKES FORTOVASE OFF THE MARKET IN EUROPE

The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has issued a public statement on the withdrawal of marketing authorization for Roche's HIV drug Fortovase (saquinavir).

Roche had notified the European Commission in May of its intent to withdraw the drug from the market for commercial reasons. Fortovase is only prescribed in combination with ritonavir and other antiretrovirals. There are several alternatives to Fortovase available in the European Union, including Invirase, which contains saquinavir as a mesylate salt.

In June the European Commission assented to withdraw the drug, and information on the drug has been removed from the EMEA website.

Roche was first granted marketing authorization for Fortovase gel capsules in 1998. The company will continue to be responsible for any remaining supply of the drug until the expiration date of the most recently released batch in January 2007.