Ranbaxy gets US nod for furosemide pills

New Delhi, Sep 21 (UNI) Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd (RLL) today said it has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to manufacture and market its furosemide tablets in the US.

''This approval follows the strategic alliance with Ipca Labs, who will develop a number of generic prescription pharmaceutical products to be marketed by parent company's US subsidiary Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Inc (RPI) in the US,'' said RPI Vice President US Sales and Marketing Jim Meehan.

US FDA determined the Ranbaxy formulations to be bioequivalent and have the same therapeutic effect as that of the reference listed drug Lasix Tablets of Aventis Pharmaceuticals Inc, the company said in a statement.

Furosemide is used for the treatment of edema associated with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver and renal disease.

Furosemide may be used in adults for the treatment of hypertension alone or in combination with other antihypertensive agents.

Total annual market sales for Furosemide Tablets were 70 million dollars.

RPI is engaged in the sale and distribution of generic and branded prescription products in the US.

UNI PV PKS HT1425