BRIDGEWATER, N.J.— Amneal Pharmaceuticals  has received Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for 150 mcg/day norelgestromin and 35 mcg/day ethinyl estradiol transdermal system. In conjunction with its approval, Amneal received a Competitive Generic Therapy (CGT) designation by the FDA and has been granted 180 days of exclusivity.

Amneal’s norelgestromin and ethinyl estradiol transdermal system is the generic version of the reference listed drug (“RLD”) Ortho Evra and will be marketed under the proprietary name zafemy. Zafemy is a 12.5 cm2 patch indicated for the prevention of pregnancy in women with a Body Mass Index of less than 30 kg/m2 for whom a combined hormonal contraceptive is appropriate. Zafemy may be less effective in preventing pregnancy in women at or above 198 lbs (90 kg). The Company expects to begin commercialization activities on March 1, 2021.

“Today’s approval is a significant milestone for patients and our company,” said Chirag and Chintu Patel, co-chief executive officers. “Zafemy will provide patients with another option to the one equivalent product—Xulane, manufactured by Mylan—currently on the market. It also demonstrates the continued successful execution of our strategy to develop and commercialize complex generics and represents the 10th of 15 high-value complex products we expect to launch before August 2021.”

According to IQVIATM, a leading healthcare data and analytics provider, U.S. annual sales for Xulane for the 12 months ended December 2020 were approximately $332 million.

“Zafemy is our fifth transdermal product approval and utilizes our extensive in-house expertise in Matrix-based as well as Hydrogel-based patches,” continued Mssrs. Patel. “We continue to focus our R&D capabilities as well as the power of our integrated supply chain on bringing more complex products to market faster and more cost efficiently.”

The RLD Ortho Evra® has been discontinued, and according to the FDA announcement of discontinuation published in the Federal Register, the product was not discontinued or withdrawn for safety or efficacy reasons. Xulane® is the only other equivalent to Ortho Evra® currently available on the market.