TORONTO — Teva Canada Ltd. has released a generic version of Pfizer Inc.’s arthritis pain drug Celebrex (celecoxib).
Teva said Monday that its generic celecoxib product, approved by Health Canada, is available now in pharmacies across Canada.
Celecoxib is indicated for the symptomatic relief associated with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, as well as for the short-term management of moderate to severe acute pain in adults with conditions such as musculoskeletal and/or soft tissue trauma, including sprains, postoperative orthopaedic and pain following dental extraction.
"Arthritis is one of the most prevalent chronic conditions, and the economic impact on the Canadian economy in health care costs and lost productivity is estimated by The Arthritis Society to be $33 billion each year," according to Doug Sommerville, senior vice president and general manager at Teva Canada. "Teva Canada is very pleased to be able to offer our more affordable, bioequivalent version of Celebrex to patients today. New generic launches in Canada over the last three years have saved patients and payers more than $2.3 billion versus the cost of the equivalent brand-name drug product. And with today’s launch, we are demonstrating our ongoing commitment to playing a critical role in ensuring the sustainability of the health care system."
Celebrex had annual sales of approximately $151 million in Canada, according to IMS Brogan sales data through September 2014 reported by Teva.
