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news.According to reports, AstraZeneca has lost a major contract with the US military, as the Pentagon plans to drop the heartburn and stomach ulcers drug Nexium, opting instead for cheaper, generic products to treat its workforce.
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The lost contract was worth up to $70 million a year, according to The Guardian, but AstraZeneca is said to have taken the news well, remaining confident about the continued success of the proton pump inhibitor, commonly known as the ‘purple pill’, in the US market.
Nexium is indicated for treating frequent, persistent heartburn and other symptoms associated with acid reflux disease. The drug was recently approved for reducing the risk of stomach ulcers developing among at risk patients on continuous non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) therapy and is also approved for healing erosive esophagitis.
Nexium capsules have been launched in 89 countries and worldwide sales totaled $3.9 billion in 2004, with US sales alone reaching $2.7 billion.