OBB News Briefs

• Earlier this week, FDA Law Blog provided an update on Teva's suit against the FDA, seeking relisting of Janssen's patent on Risperdal (risperidone) and confirmation of Teva's 180-day exclusivity on a generic version of the drug.
• Last week, FDA Law Blog reported on a recent FDA determination that Watson Labs forfeited its 180-day exclusivity on generic Camptosar (irinotecan HCl) because it failed to obtain tentative approval of its ANDA within 30 months of filing, as required by the MMA.
• Pharmalot and the WSJ Health Blog recently ran posts on a series of articles in the Los Angeles Times examining whether generic drugs are as good as brand-name drugs.
• Eighteen states recently sued Abbott Labs for antitrust violations, alleging that Abbott made trivial changes to the formulation of its TriCor cholesterol drug, thereby delaying generic competition.  Statements were released by the Attorneys General from Florida and Iowa.
• William Kovacic was appointed the new Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission this week, succeeding Deborah Platt Majoris.  The Wall St. Journal reported that Mr. Kovacic has been a strong proponent of FTC action against "reverse payment" settlements.