Apotex boss Barry Sherman's contention that he had not expected regulators to approve the Plavix patent settlement is supported by a letter he wrote to three United States senators on July 7, criticizing the growing tendency of generic makers to cut deals with big drug companies.
“Before turning to the essential point of this letter,” Mr. Sherman wrote, “I must comment on the well-publicized perception that Apotex has entered into an anticompetitive settlement with Sanofi/BMS concerning clopidogrel (Plavix).
That perception is incorrect.
Apotex has negotiated only to remove barriers to immediate launch.
To achieve that objective, we entered into a somewhat bizarre arrangement that will enable immediate launch, if and when F.T.C. refuses to approve a settlement.”
The letter — addressed to Senator Charles E. Grassley, Republican of Iowa, and the Democrats Charles E. Schumer of New York and Herbert H. Kohl of Wisconsin — accurately predicted that the refusal would come within weeks.
The whole story will be in his autobiography, Mr. Sherman says, or it might emerge sooner, as the facts unfold about Plavix.
“In due course,’’ he said, “you’ll have it all.”
Insider's view: An autobiography - marvellous stuff. Can't wait. It's on Insider's Christmas list already !
NY Times
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