Schering-Plough Corporation announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Warrick Pharmaceuticals has launched a generic ribavirin product in the United States. Schering-Plough had previously entered into a licensing agreement with Three Rivers Pharmaceuticals, LLC regarding Schering-Plough's US ribavirin patents.

Under terms of the agreement and as a result of launching Warrick ribavirin, Schering-Plough will not receive a royalty from Three Rivers on sales of Three Rivers' generic ribavirin product. Financial terms of the licensing agreement have not been disclosed.

Schering-Plough noted that the market for generic pharmaceutical products is volatile, particularly at launch, and it will price its generic ribavirin product according to market conditions and applicable regulations.

Schering-Plough markets ribavirin, USP capsules under the brand name Rebetol. As previously reported, Schering-Plough expected generic competition for Rebetol in the US market in 2004.