Drug maker to distribute Zephrex-D decongestant

DUBLIN, Ireland — Perrigo Co. plc is bringing in methamphetamine-blocking capability for pseudoephedrine (PSE) products.

On Tuesday, Perrigo said it has entered an exclusive licensing agreement with St. Louis-based Highland Pharmaceuticals for its Tarex meth-blocking technology.

The deal also includes the distribution rights of Zephrex-D, the pseudoephedrine nasal decongestant marketed by Highland’s Westport Pharmaceuticals unit.

Plans call for Perrigo to integrate the Tarex technology into certain of its store-brand and retailer own label pseudoephedrine HCI products and to immediately begin distribution of Zephrex-D to its retail customers.

Zephrex-D (pseudoephedrine HCI, 30 mg) was developed using the Tarex technology and has been proven to be more than 98% effective at blocking one of the more common domestic methods of illegal meth production.

Pseudoephedrine is a key ingredient of methamphetamine, the illicit manufacture of which has surged in the United States and fueled a drug abuse epidemic.

Perrigo said the licensing pact is part of the company’s ongoing efforts in the fight against meth drug abuse.

“Across the country, illegal methamphetamine use continues to be a significant issue,” stated Jeff Needham, executive vice president and Americas consumer health care president at Perrigo. “Our investment in Tarex technology is another example of Perrigo’s commitment to help protect and promote healthier communities. We are committed to leveraging the Tarex technology to extend our line of meth-resistant pseudoephedrine products in the future.”