Watson Progresses on Rapaflo - Analyst Blog

Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc. (WPI) recently reported positive data from a mid-stage trial on Rapaflo, for the reduction of symptoms of moderate to severe chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS).

Chronic pelvic pain syndrome is characterized by persistent discomfort in the lower pelvic area, thereby affecting the quality of life of the sufferer. Symptoms of CPPS include painful and frequent urination and difficult or painful ejaculation.

The trial results demonstrated that the 4 mg and 8 mg doses of Rapaflo significantly decreased the symptoms of CPPS and improved the quality of life. Moreover, patients treated with the same dosage strengths of Rapaflo showed significantly better results compared to patients treated with placebo. Additionally, in a global response assessment, 56% of patients treated with Rapaflo 4 mg reported moderate or marked improvement in the symptoms of CPPS compared to 29% of patients on placebo.

We note that Rapaflo is already on the market for the treatment of signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Rapaflo was originally developed by Japanese company Kissei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., which has a licensing deal with Watson Pharma for the marketing of the drug in the US, Canada and Mexico.

Watson Pharma was recently in the news for the launch of authorized generics of Cephalon Inc.’s (CEPH) Amrix (15 mg and 30 mg) and Johnson & Johnson’s (JNJ) Concerta. While Cephalon markets Amrix to help control muscle spasm associated with acute, painful musculoskeletal conditions, Concerta is used for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children aged 6 to 17 and adults aged 18 to 65 years.

Neutral on Watson Pharma

We currently have a Neutral recommendation on Watson Pharma. We believe that the company’s cost saving initiative and new product launches, both branded and generic, will help drive long-term growth.

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