Covidien Gets Approval For Generic Pain Drug Actiq

NEW YORK (AP) — Covidien PLC said Friday it expects to start selling a generic version of the painkiller Actiq in early 2010.

Covidien's generic received Food and Drug Administration marketing on Friday. Covidien expects to start selling six different doses of generic Actiq, or fentanyl citrate, which is a powerful and addictive painkiller. It is approved only for use by cancer patients who are suffering from severe pain that is not being helped by other drugs.

Actiq is given in lollipop form. The branded version of Actiq is made by Cephalon Inc.

Barr Pharmaceuticals, a unit of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, has marketed a generic version of Actiq since 2006.