Ring in generics in 2012 and beyond, says Zacks Equity Research

The New Year is expected to be a happy beginning for generic companies like Teva Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: TEVA), Mylan (Nasdaq: MYL), Watson Pharma (NYSE: WPI), India’s Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (NYSE: RDY) and Sandoz, the generic arm of Swiss drug major Novartis (NOVN: VX), say analysts at Zacks Equity Research. A large number of high-value branded pharmaceuticals have begun to go off-patent, and many more will lose patent exclusivity in the next few years.

Major revenue generating blockbuster medicines like Pfizer’s (NYSE: PFE) cholesterol drug Lipitor (atorvastatin), Eli Lily’s (NYSE: LLY) antipsychotic drug Zyprexa (olanzapine) and Johnson & Johnson’s (NYSE: JNJ) Levaquin (levofloxacin) lost patent exclusivity in the USA in November, October and June of this year, respectively. While Teva and Dr Reddy’s have launched their generic version of Zyprexa, India’s largest generic maker Ranbaxy Laboratories (RANB: BO), has launched a generic of Lipitor in partnership with Teva (The Pharma Letter December 1, 2011). Watson has launched the authorized generic version of Lipitor.

Generics coming home to roost