Teva Launches Generic Dutasteride

Israeli generics giant Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has launched a generic equivalent to Glaxo SmithKline’s Avodart (dutasteride) 0.5 mg capsules on the US market.

The active ingredient dutasteride, a 5 alpha-reductase enzyme inhibitor, works by lowering production of the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT and is used to treat the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men with an enlarged prostate.

First drugmaker to file for a generic application, Teva said it expects its product to be exclusive for several weeks. GlaxoSmithKline has annual sales of about $467 million from the capsules.