Watson Pharmaceuticals

Infobox Company
name = Watson Pharmaceuticals

type = Public (nyse|WPI)
genre =
foundation = Libertyville, Illinois, USA (Spring 1984)
founder = Allen Chao, Ph.D. and David Hsia, Ph.D.
location_city = Corona, California
location_country = U.S.
location =
locations = 18 plants, distribution centers, and marketing/sales facilities worldwide, total.
area_served = Worldwide
key_people = Dr. Allen Chao, Ph.D & Paul Bisaro, CEO
industry = Brand and generic pharmaceuticals, and research and development.
products = Brand and generic pharmaceuticals
services =
market c

revenue = US$ 2,498,651,000 (2007)
operating_income = US$ 255,660,000 (2007)
net_income = US$ 141,030,000 (2007)
assets = US$ 3,472,027,000 (2007)
equity = US$ 1,849,465,000 (2007)
owner =
num_employees = 5,789 employees worldwide (2008)
parent =
divisions =
subsid = Andrx Corporation (Acquired Nov. 2006)
homepage = http://www.watson.com/
footnotes =
intl =

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Incorporated (NYSE: [http://www.nyse.com/about/listed/lcddata.html?ticker=WPI WPI] ) is the 5th largest pharmaceutical company in the United States based on number of prescriptions dispensed. Based in Corona, California, Watson's Generics division markets over 150 pharmaceutical product families, including one of the largest lines of oral contraceptives in the Industry, as well as the generic version of the popular and highly dispensed opiate narcotic pain medication, Vicodin®, Hydrocodone Bitartrate/APAP tablets. Watson's Brand division markets over 20 pharmaceutical product families, including [http://www.ferrlecit.com/ "Ferrlecit"®] for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia, [http://www.oxytrol.com/ "Oxytrol"®] , a transdermal matrix patch for the control of overactive bladder, [http://www.norco-rx.com "Norco"®] , a popular opioid/narcotic pain medication, [http://www.androderm.com/ "Androderm"®] , a transdermal reservoir patch for the treatment of low testosterone, as well as many other brand name medications. In addition, Watson's Distribution division, Anda, markets more than 6,000 pharmaceutical products, making it the 4th largest pharmaceutical distribution company in the United States.

History

Watson's roots began in the Spring of 1984, when, with funding from friends and family, colleagues Allen Chao, Ph.D. and David Hsia, Ph.D., begin a small drug development enterprise. In tribute to his mother, whose maiden name was Hwa, Dr. Chao names the new pharmaceutical company after her. With a small concession to the English language, "Hwa's son" becomes Watson. Just two months later, Watson establishes an initial product development and analytical laboratory with six employees (including both founders) into a leased space in Libertyville, Illinois. By late Fall of the same year, Operations then move to Southern California into an initial 25,000 square-foot leased facility in Corona; the development and manufacturing of generic pharmaceuticals begins.

Merger and acquisition activity

Acquisition of Andrx Corporation

On November 3, 2006, Watson acquired all the outstanding shares of common stock of the Andrx Corporation, a Fort Lauderdale, Florida based pharmaceutical company, in an all-cash transaction for $25 per share, or total consideration of approximately $1.9 billion. Andrx distributes pharmaceutical products primarily to independent and chain pharmacies and physicians’ offices and is considered a leader in formulating and commercializing difficult-to-replicate controlled-release pharmaceutical products and selective immediate-release products.¹ The acquisition expands Watson's sustained release technology platform and adds a number of high-barrier-to-entry products to its pipeline. Additionally, the acquisition includes Andrx's Anda Distribution business and state-of-the-art distribution centers in Florida and Ohio. These assets will allow for broadening Watson's product portfolio & providing future growth opportunities.

Locations and Facilities

* Corona, California
** Number of Employees: Approximately 1,330
*** Facility Focus: Corporate Headquarters, Solid Dosage Manufacturing, Generic R&D.
* Salt Lake City, Utah
** Number of Employees: Approximately 310
*** Facility Focus: Brand Research & Development, Transdermal Manufacturing.
* Mt. Prospect, Illinois
** Number of Employees: Approximately 30
*** Facility Focus: Pharmaceutical technology and analytical support to in-house and third party manufacturing.
* Gurnee, Illinois
** Number of Employees: Approximately 80
*** Facility Focus: Distribution and Telesales.
* Groveport, Ohio
** Number of Employees: Approximately 115
*** Facility Focus: Distribution Warehouse.
* Grand Island, New York
** Number of Employees: Approximately 70
*** Facility Focus: Telesales Operation.
* Copiague, New York
** Number of Employees: Approximately 200
*** Facility Focus: Transmucosal Gum (Nicotine Polacrilex Gum) Manufacturing.
* Brewster, New York
** Number of Employees: Approximately 90
*** Facility Focus: Distribution & Sales Operations, Regulatory Affairs.
* Carmel, New York
** Number of Employees: Approximately 570
*** Facility Focus: Mass Solid Dosage Pharmaceutical Manufacturing.
* Danbury, Connecticut
** Number of Employees: Approximately 60
*** Facility Focus: Finance, Analytical Laboratory, Pharmaceutical Technology, Engineering Validation, and Training.
* Morristown, New Jersey
** Number of Employees: Approximately 180 staff employees and 370 field sales representatives.
*** Facility Focus: Commercial Headquarters, Sales & Marketing, Sales Operations, Medical Affairs.
* Weston, Florida
** Number of Employees: Approximately 570.
*** Facility Focus: Distribution Warehouse & Telesales Operation for Anda Inc..
* Davie, Florida
** Number of Employees: Approximately 820.
*** Facility Focus: Solid dosage manufacturing (tablets and capsules), Generic Research & Development, focusing primarily on controlled-release solid dose products.
* Coleraine, Northern Ireland, Europe
** Number of Employees: Approximately 26.
*** Facility Focus: Manufactures 99% pharmaceutical grade nicotine, nicotine bitartrate dehydrate, and nicotine polacrilex as active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) for the smoking cessation industry.
* Mumbai, India
** Number of Employees: Approximately 735, including contract workers.
*** Facility Focus: Process Research & Development, Manufacturing of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and related intermediates, Generic product development, and Solid dosage manufacturing.
* Goa, India
** Number of Employees: Approximately 50.
*** Facility Focus: Solid dosage manufacturing.
* Shanghai, China
** Number of Employees: Approximately 92.
*** Facility Focus: China Sales and Marketing, API Manufacturing (start-up).
* Changzhou, China
** Number of Employees: Approximately 91.
*** Facility Focus: China Sales and Marketing, API Manufacturing (start-up).

Products

Some of the more popular products manufactured by Watson Pharmaceuticals are:

*"ACYCLOVIR" Tablets (Generic for: Zovirax®)
*"BUPROPION HYDROCHLORIDE" Tablets (Generic for: Wellbutrin SR® & Zyban SR®)
*"BUSPIRONE HYDROCHLORIDE" Tablets (Generic for: BuSpar®)
*"CARISOPRODOL" Tablets (Generic for: Soma®)
*"CITALOPRAM HYDROBROMIDE" Tablets (Generic for: Celexa®)
*"CLARITHROMYCIN" Extended-Release Tablets (generic for: Biaxin XL®)
*"CLONAZEPAM" Tablets (Generic for: Klonopin®), CIV
*"CYCLOBENZAPRINE HYDROCHLORIDE" Tablets (Generic for: Flexeril®)
*"DIAZEPAM" Tablets (Generic for: Valium ®), CIV
*"DOXYCYCLINE HYCLATE" Capsules (Generic for: Vibramycin®)
*"ENALAPRIL MALEATE" Tablets (Generic for: Vasotec®)
*"FENTANYL CITRATE TRANSMUCOSAL SYSTEMS" "AKA: Morphine Lollipops" (Generic for:Actiq®), CII
*"FENTANYL CITRATE TRANSDERMAL PATCH" Skin Patches (Generic for: Duragesic®), CII
*"FIORICET®" Tablets (Butalbital, Acetaminophen, Caffeine), CIII
*"FIORINAL®" Capsules (Butalbital, Aspirin, Caffeine), CIII
*"HYDROCODONE BITARTRATE/APAP" Tablets (Generic for: Vicodin®, Lorcet®, Lortab®, Norco®), CIII
*"HYDROCODONE BITARTRATE & IBUPROFEN" Tablets (Generic for: Vicoprofen®), CII
*"IBUPROFEN" Tablets (Generic for: Motrin®)
*"LISINOPRIL" Tablets (Generic for: Zestril®)
*"MAXIDONE®" Tablets (Hydrocodone Bitartrate & Acetaminophen tablets), CIII
*"NORCO®" Tablets (Hydrocodone Bitartrate & Acetaminophen tablets), CIII
*"QUASENSE", a generic equivalent of "Seasonale", an extended cycle combination oral contraceptive pill.

External links

* [http://www.watson.com Watson Pharmaceuticals Homepage]
* [http://www.norco-rx.com "NORCO®" Tablets]