Galen's US patent for chewable Pill
13 April 2012
NICHE drugs group Galen Holdings has been given an American patent for its chewable oral contraceptive Ovcon 35, which won US Food and Drug Administration approval last month.
The product, intended for those who find taking a pill difficult, can be chewed or swallowed with water and has a pleasant flavour. The patent will protect Ovcon 35 in the US until June 2021.
The American market is estimated to be worth £250m for Galen. The product will be marketed by Warner Chilcott.
Galen chief executive Roger Boissonneault said the Ovcon franchise, which includes other contraceptive pills, had grown by almost 30% in the past year.
