Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. confirmed that its subsidiary, Watson Laboratories, Inc. has launched famciclovir tablets, 125 mg, 250 mg and 500 mg, the generic version of Novartis' Famvir following approval of its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Watson has begun shipping the product. Famciclovir is an antiviral used in the treatment for immunocompetent adult patients with herpes labialis (cold sores), genital herpes and for HIV infected adult patients for treatment of recurrent episodes of orolabial or genital herpes.

For the most recent twelve months ending December 2010, Famvir and its generics had total US sales of approximately $197 million according to IMS Health data.

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a leading global specialty pharmaceutical company. The company is engaged in the development, manufacturing, marketing and distribution of generic pharmaceuticals and specialized branded pharmaceutical products focused on urology and women's health.