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news.Santarus, a specialty biopharmaceutical company, has reported that Schering-Plough HealthCare Products, the consumer healthcare subsidiary of Merck & Co, has initiated promotion of Zegerid OTC (omeprazole 20mg/sodium bicarbonate 1100 mg capsules) under its licensing agreement with Santarus for the over-the-counter (OTC) market in North America.
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Zegerid OTC is the OTC proton pump inhibitor (PPI) product with two active ingredients, omeprazole, a PPI, and sodium bicarbonate. The sodium bicarbonate acts as a buffer to raise the gastric pH and protect the omeprazole from acid degradation in the stomach and allows it to be absorbed. Zegerid OTC is a 14-day course of treatment taken once daily as directed to treat frequent heartburn, defined as heartburn that occurs two or more days a week.
As per the terms of the Zegerid OTC license agreement, Santarus is entitled to a low double-digit royalty, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances, on net sales of any Zegerid OTC products sold in North America. In turn, Santarus is expected to be obligated to pay royalties to the University of Missouri on net sales of any such OTC products. Santarus also may be entitled to receive up to an additional $37.5m in sales milestones.
Gerald Proehl, president and CEO at Santarus, said: “The commercialisation of Zegerid OTC is in keeping with our strategy to maximise our patented PPI technology. With its dual-ingredient formula, Zegerid OTC offers an attractive alternative to the currently marketed OTC PPI products and positions us to receive royalty revenues without further investment from Santarus. Schering-Plough Consumer HealthCare began shipping Zegerid OTC in late March, and we expect to report royalty revenue from these shipments in our first quarter financial results.”