Endo Pharmaceuticals has entered into a licensing agreement
with Novartis to obtain the exclusive US marketing rights for Voltaren Gel
(diclofenac sodium topical gel) 1%. Endo said it expects to commercialize
Voltaren Gel using one of its two specialty sales forces, consisting of 160
reps, prior to executing a full physician launch in late May with an additional
275 contract sales reps targeting primary care physicians who prescribe both
NSAIDs and Cox-2s.
Voltaren Gel received FDA
approval in October 2007. Endo estimates US peak annual sales for Voltaren Gel
as an osteoarthritis pain treatment in the range of $250-300 million.