Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:TEVA) has unveiled Vagifem’s generic version in the United States. Vagifem, or estradiol vaginal inserts, is an estrogen that is used in treating atrophic vaginitis in women that results from menopause.

“Our expanding portfolio of oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapies gives women a broader choice of products to manage their health needs cost-effectively. With this addition, patients and healthcare providers who prefer this unique dosage-form now have another, more affordable option for treatment,” Teva’s president and chief executive officer for Global Generic Medicines in North America, Andy Boyer, said.

Largest generics portfolio

With the new generic, the existing portfolio of Teva has now grown to include women’s health products numbering over 70. Overall Teva has a portfolio of close to 600 generic drugs. Teva is thus the pharmaceutical firm with the biggest portfolio of generic products that have been approved in the market. It is also a leader when it comes to first-to-file opportunities as it currently has 100 such opportunities in the United States. In the United States one in every six generic drug prescriptions is a Teva product.

In the first five months of this year sales of estradiol vaginal inserts in the United States were $379 million. The inserts should, however, be used cautiously as they might have adverse effects on some women. In women who use unopposed estrogens for instance the risk of getting endometrial cancer increases. Additionally for women who have only had estrogen-alone therapy, there was an increased risk of developing deep vein thrombosis and strike as well as dementia in women aged above 65.

Estradiol contraindications

Women who used estrogen therapy combined with progestin also stand a risk of invasive breast cancer, myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis and stroke. Those women aged over 65 also risk developing dementia.

Estradiol is also contraindicated in women who suffer from a known thrombophilic disorders, known protein S or protein C deficiency, known antithrombin deficiency or a known liver disease or impairment. It is also contraindicated in women with a suspected or known pregnancy.

On Monday shares of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries fell by 0.52% to close the day at $32.47.