HOSPIRA'S ONDANSETRON INJECTION LAUNCHES

Hospira Dec. 26 announced the launch of ondansetron injection. The medication is the generic version of GlaxoSmithKline's Zofran, which posted 2005 U.S. sales of more than $600 million. Ondansetron is an antiemetic used for the prevention of nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy and anesthesia/surgery. It is available from Hospira in a 4-mg single-dose vial and a 40-mg multiple-dose vial.

Hospira will offer the only generic injectable ondansetron product portfolio that includes vials as well as a premix and a proprietary syringe (still pending review by the FDA). The iSecure syringe is a prefilled, disposable and ready-to-use syringe that will provide convenience and efficiency for the administration of injectable medications. To help hospitals reduce medication errors, Hospira also labels all of its injectable products with unit-of-use bar codes.

Ondansetron is indicated for the prevention of postoperative and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and is generally well-tolerated. Adverse events may include headache, constipation, diarrhea, dizziness, musculoskeletal pain, drowsiness, arrhythmias, flushing and transient blurred vision.

Hospira is the leading U.S. supplier of generic injectable pharmaceuticals, offering more than 130 generic injectable products in more than 600 dosages and formulations.