Actavis today announced the launch of the antiepileptic drug Topiramate in the UK, Germany, France and Switzerland. The product was launched on day one as the originator’s patent expired on 25 September. Actavis was first to market in all four countries.

Topiramate is used to treat epilepsy and will be sold in tablets of 25mg, 50mg, 100mg and 200mg. Topiramate is the generic equivalent of Janssen-Cilaq’s Topamax® / Epitomax®.

According to IMS Health, Janssen-Cilag’s product had sales of approximately €98 mln for the 12 months ended June 2009 in the four countries of UK, Germany, France and Switzerland.

Topiramate Actavis was developed by Actavis’ R&D in Iceland and in produced by Actavis in Hafnarfjordur, Iceland.

Actavis has already launched Topiramate in other countries where no patent protection was in place, including Portugal in 2007.