TAP Pharmaceuticals

TAP Pharmaceuticals was a joint venture between the pharmaceutical companies Abbott Laboratories and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company. Established in 1977, TAP Pharmaceuticals was known for the development and marketing of the drugs Lupron, Prevacid and Prevpac. The company was dissolved in 2008, with both parent companies taking over the products.

History

TAP Pharmaceuticals was formed in 1977 as a 50/50 joint venture between Abbott Laboratories, a U.S. based health care company, and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, a Japan-based pharmaceutical company. The aim of the joint venture was to develop and market pharmaceutical products in the United States.

TAP Pharmaceuticals gained significant recognition for the development and marketing of Lupron, a drug used in the treatment of prostate cancer, endometriosis, and early puberty. Other notable drugs developed by TAP Pharmaceuticals include Prevacid, used for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and Prevpac, a combination of lansoprazole, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin used for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection and duodenal ulcer disease.

In 2001, TAP Pharmaceuticals agreed to pay $875 million to settle federal criminal and civil charges for fraudulent drug pricing and marketing of Lupron. This was one of the largest amounts ever paid by a pharmaceutical company in a settlement at that time.

In 2008, Abbott Laboratories and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company decided to dissolve TAP Pharmaceuticals. The decision was made due to changes in the pharmaceutical industry and the upcoming patent expiration of Prevacid. Following the dissolution, both parent companies took over the marketing and development of the products.

Products

TAP Pharmaceuticals was known for the development and marketing of several significant drugs. These include:

• Lupron: A hormone therapy used in the treatment of prostate cancer, endometriosis, and early puberty.
• Prevacid: A proton pump inhibitor used for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
• Prevpac: A combination of lansoprazole, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin used for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection and duodenal ulcer disease.

See Also

• Abbott Laboratories
• Takeda Pharmaceutical Company
• Pharmaceutical industry in the United States