Ranbaxy to market Zonisamide Capsules in the US

Mumbai, June 9 (UNI) Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd has announced that the Company plans to market Zonisamide Capsules for the treatment of epilepsy in the US market through a strategic partnership with Invagen Pharmaceuticals Inc., (Invagen) of Hauppauge, New York.

Invagen has received the US FDA approval for bio-equivalency and therefore a therapeutically equivalent Zonisamide to the listed drug ZonegranTM Capsules, 25 mg, 50 mg and 100 mg respectively, according to a news release here today.

The agreement with Invagen provides for products to be developed and submitted to the US FDA for approval, and for manufacturing Invagen's US based manufacturing facility. Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Inc, (RPI) will then commercialize the product under the Company's label to all classes of trade Zonisamide Capsules have total annualized sales of USD 170.30 million ($ US: IMS MAT: March 2006).

Zonisamide is indicated as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial seizures in adults with epilepsy.

''The addition of Zonisamide Capsules to our product mix through an alliance with Invagen reinforces our Strategy to use inorganic means to grow our product pipeline, as well. Such partnerships with companies like Invagen, who have capabilities and competencies to develop bioequivalent generic product for the marketplace are naturally beneficial to both organizations while having a positive economic impact on the U S healthcare system.'' according to Atul Malhotra, President of Ranbaxy Inc.

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