The first generic version of Roche's best-selling flu medication Tamiflu entered the U.S. market Monday, reports Reuters.
Roche has historically earned windfall profits from Tamiflu during flu epidemics causing jumps in demand. During the H1N1 swine flu outbreak in 2009, the drug produced almost $3 billion in revenue for the Swiss drugmaker.
Alvogen, which developed the generic treatment with Indian drugmaker Natco Pharma, said it expected the lower-priced product to save the U.S. healthcare system up to $500 million throughout the upcoming flu season, according to the report.
Facing more and more generic competition, Roche is now looking toward a new pipeline of blockbuster medications to increase revenues, reports Reuters.
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