Watson Unit Gets FDA Warning Letter

Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s Oclassen Pharmaceuticals unit improperly promoted its genital warts treatment, the Food and Drug Administration said in a warning letter. In the letter, dated Dec. 22, the FDA said Oclassen brochures failed to properly emphasize all of the risks associated with the company’s Condylox Gel. The agency asked the company to immediately stop distributing the materials in question and to come up with a plan for sending letters to doctors to “correct the misleading impressions in the marketplace.” Officials of Corona-based Watson, one of the biggest makers of generic drugs, weren’t immediately available for comment. Shares rose $1.50 to close at $58 on the NYSE. The FDA sends hundreds of warning letters to companies each year.