It beats estimates by a penny, but sales of big drugs like Procrit slow dramatically as competition mounts.

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In the first quarter, he says, sales of Procrit rose only 5% in the U.S. and dropped 9% internationally.

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Now Aranesp controls 26% of the U.S. anemia market versus 38% for Procrit and is gaining share, according to IMS Health.

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The associated drugs like procrit for anemia or zometa for bone hardening are also in the multiple thousands of dollars per treatment.

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The complaint blames Amgen's practices for the drop in Procrit market share from 55% in early 2004 to 34% in late 2005.

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The insurer cites research that shows Procrit is less expensive than Aranesp.

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The worst-case scenario is that Amgen continues to erase any growth Procrit can manage, and the Cypher stent can't make up the difference.

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The problem: Sales of anemia medicine Procrit, the New Brunswick, N.

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By early 2004 Aranesp had a 45% share to Procrit's 55%.

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Making matters more difficult in Europe, Roche (otc: RHHBY - news - people ) has its own anemia drug that is also stealing market share from Procrit.

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Chris Poon , chairman of the pharmaceuticals group, detailed a plan for defending the Procrit franchise: Yes, AraNesp is given less often, Poon said, but it may not be as effective, and it is certainly considerably more expensive.

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