Teva launches first U.S. generic against Novartis antidiarrheal Sandostatin LAR

Israeli drugmaker Teva Pharmaceuticals (NYSE:TEVA) announced Tuesday the market launch of the first and only U.S. generic for Sandostatin LAR, an antidiarrheal medication marketed by Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis (NYSE:NVS) (OTCPK:NVSEF).

The injectable, known as octreotide acetate, is also indicated in the U.S. as a long-term therapy for the hormonal disorder acromegaly in addition to diarrheal conditions linked to certain tumors.

According to healthcare analytics firm IQVIA (IQV), Sandostatin LAR generated $826M of annual sales as of July 2024.

“With today’s launch of octreotide acetate for injectable suspension (the generic version of Sandostatin® LAR Depot), Teva is providing patients a new option for this important treatment,” said Ernie Richardsen, SVP of Teva’s (TEVA) U.S. Commercial Generics.

TEVA’s biggest revenue generator in the U.S., its generics segment, added more than $1B to the company’s topline in Q2 2024, implying ~16% YoY growth.