Executive Summary

Actavis Generics (formerly known as Watson Pharmaceuticals and Actavis plc, prior to the acquisition of Irish-based Allergan Inc) is a global pharmaceutical company focused on acquiring, developing, manufacturing and marketing branded pharmaceuticals, generic and over-the-counter medicines, and biologic products. Actavis has a commercial presence across approximately 100 countries. The company has global headquarters in Dublin, Ireland and administrative headquarters in Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey, United States.

As of 2019, Actavis, Inc. no longer exists in the United States. The brand name component of the company is now renamed Allergan, and the generic component of the company has been sold to Teva Pharmaceuticals.

History of Actavis

In 1993, Actavis, then Watson, announced its initial public offering (IPO) of shares of common stock. The company was initially listed on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol WATS. The company moved to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in 1997, and began trading under the symbol WPI.

In 2011, the company moved its corporate headquarters from Corona, California to Parsippany, New Jersey. The new LEED-certified corporate headquarters at the Morris Corporate Center in Parsippany was formally dedicated on June 9, 2011.

In November 2012, Watson acquired the Switzerland-based, global generics company Actavis Group for €4.25 billion, creating the world’s third largest generics company, with a leading position in key established commercial markets including the US, the UK, Nordics, Canada, Australia, and emerging markets in Central and Eastern Europe, and Russia. Following the acquisition, Watson adopted Actavis’ name for its global operations.

In November 2014, Actavis PLC announced its intention to acquire Allergan Inc, the manufacturer of Botox. Completion of the deal would increase its market capitalization to $147 billion. On March 17, 2015, Actavis PLC completed the acquisition of Allergan Inc in a cash and equity transaction valued at approximately $70.5 billion. The combination created a $23 billion diversified global pharmaceutical company with commercial reach across 100 countries. In June 2015, Actavis PLC officially changed its name to Allergan PLC. On June 15, 2015, Actavis plc changed its name to Allergan plc, but the company’s U.S. and Canadian generics business will continue to operate under the Actavis name. 

In July 2015, Allergan PLC announced it would sell its Generics division of the company, including Anda Inc, to Teva Pharmaceuticals for $40.5 billion.

Subsidiaries of Actavis

While Actavis itself is a subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceuticals, it is also the parent of a number of companies, namely: 

1. Auden McKenzie Holdings
2. Durata Therapeutics
3. Forest Laboratories
4. Furiex Pharmaceuticals
5. Aptalis Pharma
6. Galen
7. Warner Chilcott PLC
8. Procter & Gamble’s prescription drug unit
9. Watson Pharma
10. Andrx Corporation
11. Arrow Group
12. Eden Biodesign
13. Specifar Pharmaceuticals SA
14. Ascent Pharmahealth Ltd
15. Actavis Group

Popular Products of AbbVie

AbbVie’s most popular products are the following:

1. Actonel (risedronic acid) is used to treat the complications of osteoporosis.
2. Androderm patch (testosterone) is a transdermal patch used to treat issues with low testosterone levels as a result of surgery, disease, or some other disorder.
3. Several different generic antidepressant medications, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants, were manufactured by the company.
4. Several different generic benzodiazepine medications were manufactured by the company.
5. Botox (botulinum toxin) is an extremely neurotoxic amino acid produced by bacteria, such as Clostridium botulinum. This substance interferes with the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which can result in paralysis. As a medicine, it has a number of uses, including both cosmetic and medical uses.
6. Enablax (darifenacin) and Gelnique (oxybutynin) are used to treat urinary incontinence.
7. Latisse (bimatoprost) is used as eye drops to control glaucoma and in the management of the ocular hypertension that often occurs with glaucoma.
8. Linzess (linaclotide) is used for treatment of constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome and chronic idiopathic constipation.
9. Namenda and Namenda XR (memantine) is a drug that is used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, especially in the moderate to severe stages. The drug cannot cure Alzheimer’s disease or stop the progression of the disorder, but there is some research that suggests it may slow the progression of the disorder in some individuals.
10. Norco (acetaminophen and hydrocodone) was produced by Watson Pharmaceuticals, which was acquired by Actavis, Inc. They also produced generic forms of acetaminophen and hydrocodone. Hydrocodone is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
11. Ozurdex (dexamethasone) is used to treat hypertension.
12. Generic forms of the opiate drug oxycodone were marketed by Actavis, Inc. These included oxycodone (OxyContin) and a generic form of acetaminophen and oxycodone (Percocet). Oxycodone is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance by the DEA.
13. Restasis (ciclosporin) is an immunosuppressive medication that has a number of uses, including treating Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and the rejection of new organs after organ transplant surgery.
14. Teflaro (ceftaroline fosamil) is an antibiotic that can be used to treat MRSA infections.
15. A generic form of oxymorphone is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance by the DEA and used to control pain.
16. Generic forms of hydrocodone/ibuprofen (Vicoprofen) are used to control pain.

Product Recalls and Lawsuits

1. One of the glaring legal issues that Actavis, Inc. faced was its decision to discontinue its drug Namenda in favor of marketing the extended-release version Namenda XR (the extended-release version of memantine, the active ingredient in Namenda). Many onlookers viewed this as an attempt by the company to force out companies that had created generic versions of Namenda because these companies would not be able to provide patients with a drug similar to Namenda XR and patients who had been taking Namenda XR would not adapt to generic immediate-release versions of the drug. A pending lawsuit by the Attorney General of the United States at the time, Eric T. Schneiderman, led to Actavis, Inc. eventually abandoning their plans and the potential markup of memantine, which would have been quite significant.
2. Actavis, Inc. was included in a large lawsuit by the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois regarding the serious issue of prescription drug abuse in the United States. The lawsuit accused several companies, including Actavis, Inc., of illegally marketing these drugs and increasing the number of people addicted to them.
3. Numerous lawsuits have been filed as a result of misuse of testosterone therapy for “Low-T” syndrome, which became a marketing strategy for several pharmaceutical companies that already had medications to treat low testosterone in individuals who had other medical conditions. The Low-T syndrome associated with normal aging is not an actual syndrome in most cases, but a natural aspect of getting older. Individuals using the product Androderm and suffering side effects, such as cardiovascular effects or increased risk of cancer, have been involved in numerous suits against Actavis, Inc. In 2017, Teva Pharmaceuticals requested that it be dropped from the Androderm lawsuit.
4. A number of pharmaceutical companies, including Teva Pharmaceuticals and Allergan, are being considered for a large lawsuit alleging the companies of engaging in illegal price-fixing strategies.

Litigation Settlements

1. In 2018, Actavis settled 500 Androderm cases. Though no potential settlement order has been released, the judge in that case cited putting a stay on all Androderm claims against Actavis would allow parties to dedicate time and energy to finalize the agreement. The first bellwether trial date (August 6, 2018) for Androderm lawsuits has not been vacated yet.
2. Actavis has been involved in a number of patent litigation settlements. Most notably, in the 2013 US Supreme Court case FTC vs. Actavis, the Court held that the FTC could make an antitrust challenge under the rule of reason against a so-called pay-for-delay agreement, also referred to as a reverse payment patent settlement. Such an agreement is one in which a drug patentee pays another company, ordinarily a generic drug manufacturer, to stay out of the market, thus avoiding generic competition and a challenge to patent validity. 
3. In 2014, Actavis announced that it has entered into an agreement with Pfizer, Inc. to settle all outstanding patent litigation related to Actavis’ generic version of Celebrex (celecoxib) 50 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg and 400 mg capsules.  Celebrex is indicated for the relief of the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis, and for the management of acute pain in adults.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actavis#In_popular_culture

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=65778&p=irol-SECText&TEXT=aHR0cDovL2FwaS50ZW5rd2l6YXJkLmNvbS9maWxpbmcueG1sP2lwYWdlPTEwODU4MDYyJkRTRVE9MCZTRVE9MCZTUURFU0M9U0VDVElPTl9FTlRJUkUmc3Vic2lkPTU3

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1578845/000119312515052898/d842874d10k.htm

https://www.drugwatch.com/manufacturers/allergan/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teva_Pharmaceutical_Industries

http://www.vault.com/company-profiles/pharmaceuticals-and-biotechnology/watson-pharmaceuticals,-inc/company-overview.aspx

https://www.allergan.com/investors/m-a-activities/allergan-acquisition