A federal judge shot down the latest attempt by AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals to block Food and Drug Administration approval of the generic versions of its antipsychotic drug Seroquel. The drug is considered atypical because it results in fewer undesirable side effects such as tics and tremors, compared to previous antipsychotics. Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are among the conditions the drug is used to treat. Regulators gave the green light to the generic forms of Seroquel on March 27, 2012, just four days after U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly dismissed AstraZeneca’s previous legal effort to enjoin its generic competition.
