Glenmark gets US nod for pravastatin sodium

MUMBAI: Glenmark Pharmaceuticals announced on Wednesday that it had received approval in the US to market a generic version of Bristol Myers Squibb’s cholesterol lowering drug, Pravachol (10 mg, 20 mg and 40 mg), known under its generic name as pravastatin sodium. According to Glenmark Pharma, Bristol Myers Squibb’s Pravachol has annual sales of over $861 million.

Glenmark will, however, be launching its drug in a competitive market. Ranbaxy Lab, Dr Reddy’s Lab, Lek Pharma (a subsidiary company of Sandoz), Apotex, Teva, Watson, Pliva and GenPharma, are already marketing a generic version of Bristol Myers Squibb’s drug in the US.

Last month, Glenmark had also received approval to market a generic version of Roche’s Anaprox (250 mg and 500 mg) and Naprosyn (250 mg, 375 mg and 500 mg). The drugs have annual sales of $13 million and $53 million, respectively.