Apotex delivers second largest generic blockbuster in Canadian history.

A generic version of Crestor®, launched before patents expire.

TORONTO, April 2, 2012 /CNW/ - Apotex Inc. the largest Canadian owned pharmaceutical company, launched today Apo-Rosuvastatin, a generic version of Crestor® produced by AstraZeneca.  The Apotex product is 100% Canadian made by employees and facilities dedicated to ensuring that Canada remains a global strength in generic product introduction.  With annual Crestor® brand sales in Canada of over $700 million, generic Rosuvastatin represents the second largest generic product launch in this market to date.  The launch of Apo-Rosuvastatin comes years before the last Crestor® patents are set to expire, in August 2020.  To the Canadian healthcare system, the availability a generic rosuvastatin up to 8 years early could represent up to $3.4 billion in accumulative savings.

"We are pleased that our efforts in litigation have delivered yet another blockbuster to the Canadian generic market.  Apotex continues to lead the way in launching generic products sooner, enabling more affordable healthcare for Canadians" stated Jack Kay, Apotex CEO.  "We are especially proud that everything from research and development through to manufacturing of Apo-Rosuvastatin is done right here in Canada."

Apotex has over 6,000 employees in 21 facilities, producing 300 pharmaceuticals that are exported to 115 countries.  It is the top pharmaceutical Research and Development company in Canada with planned expenditures of $2 billion over the next ten years.  Apotex is also the only significant Canadian producer of active pharmaceutical chemicals and the only company that produces the Rosuvastatin raw material in Canada. 

*IMS Canada 2011

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Elie Betito
Director, Public & Government Affairs
Apotex Inc.
Tel: [phone], ext. 7366
Cell: 416-558-5491
Fax: [phone]
e-mail: [email protected]