FDA approval for mint flavor nicotine gum

Watson Pharmaceuticals announced today that it has received approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration on its Abbreviated New Drug Application for nicotine polacrilex gum, mint flavor, in the 2 and 4 mg strengths.

Nicotine polacrilex gum, mint flavor, is the generic version of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare's Nicorette(R) Mint gum, which is used as an aid to smoking cessation. The Company expects the product to be shipped by the end of the third quarter. For the 12-months ending June 2004, Nicorette(R) Mint gum had sales of approximately $75 million, according to IMS Health data.

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc., headquartered in Corona, CA, is a leading specialty pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures, markets, sells and distributes brand and generic pharmaceutical products. Watson pursues a growth strategy combining internal product development, strategic alliances and collaborations and synergistic acquisitions of products and businesses.