Proprietary Business Overview
Duramed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is Barr's North American proprietary
products subsidiary and an innovator in women's healthcare pharmaceutical
products, focusing product development and marketing activities primarily
on products for women. Since it was acquired by Barr in 2001, Duramed has
steadily grown to a $400+ million annual business with over 400 employees,
27 marketed products, aggressive business-development activities, and more
than a dozen R&D projects in various stages of development.
Duramed focuses on
providing patients with an array of women's healthcare products, with
particular emphasis on developing and marketing products that serve
reproductive needs, including oral, intrauterine and emergency contraceptives,
and menopausal needs, including estrogen therapy.
Proprietary pharmaceutical
products are sold under the Duramed label in the U.S., with some products also
marketed in Canada through distribution agreements with third parties. Although
these products involve substantially higher risk to bring to market and more
extensive research and development activities than generic pharmaceuticals,
proprietary products offer the potential for a longer period of market or
product exclusivity and greater returns than most generic products. However,
proprietary products require greater sales and marketing expenses because of
the need to promote them directly to physicians and consumers.
Duramed Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. is the proud title sponsor of the DURAMED FUTURES® Tour, the official
developmental tour of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). For more
information, visit www.duramedfuturestour.com.