A roundup of news from Viatris and Pfizer.

FDA Approves First Generic of AbbVie’s Restasis
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Viatris’ generic to AbbVie’s Restasis (cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion), a drug to treat dry eyes. This is the first generic of the dry-eye drug.

AbbVie acquired Restasis though it’s $63-billion acquisition of Allergan in 2020. AbbVie’s Restasis had 2020 sales of $1.29 billion.

Source: US Food and Drug Administration

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Pfizer Appoints New Chief Development Officer
Pfizer has announced that William Pao, M.D., Ph.D., will join the company as Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer, effective March 21, 2022.

At Pfizer, Dr. Pao will oversee the company’s Global Product Development organization, which is responsible for the clinical development and advancement of Pfizer’s pipeline of innovative medicines in inflammation and immunology, internal medicine, hospital, oncology and rare disease, as well as regulatory affairs.

Dr. Pao succeeds Rod MacKenzie in this role, who recently announced his intent to retire after 35 years at Pfizer.

Dr. Pao will be a member of Pfizer’s Executive Leadership Team, reporting to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Albert Bourla. He joins Pfizer from Roche, where he most recently served as the Head of Pharma Research and Early Development and oversaw the discovery and early development of a portfolio of new molecular entities to treat diseases related to cancer, neuroscience, ophthalmology, rare diseases, immunology, infectious diseases, and rare blood disorders.

Source: Pfizer