Ranbaxy labs gets Health Canada nod for cholesterol lowering drug

NEW DELHI: Ranbaxy Laboratories today said it has received approval from the Health Canada to manufacture and market its generic RAN-Rosuvastatin tablets used for lowering cholesterol in the Canadian market.

"Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc ( RPCI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd has received approval from Health Canada to manufacture and market RAN-Rosuvastatin tablets to the Canadian healthcare system," Ranbaxy Laboratories said in a statement.

Health Canada is the country's federal regulatory body of drugs and health.

RAN-Rosuvastatin tablets are generic version of Astra Zeneca's Crestor tablets.

Commenting on the approval RPCI, Canada President and GM Paul Drake said: "The finished dosage form was developed, and will be manufactured within RLL's Health Canada approved facilities located in India."

Such a generic formulation is anticipated to have positive economic benefits to the healthcare system of Canada, as well as to all Canadian patients that require Rosuvastatin therapy, he added.

Ranbaxy Laboratories is a part of the Daiichi Sankyo Group, which had acquired majority stake in the domestic firm in 2008 for a total outgo of around Rs 22,000 crore.