Lupin gets USFDA approval to market HIV drug; stock up

MUMBAI: Shares of Lupin moved higher in trade as the Mumbai-based drug maker got a tentative approval from the USFDA to market Darunavir Ethanolate tablets, a generic version of Prezista tablets used in treatment of HIV.

Darunavir tablets are indicated for the treatment of HIV-1 infections. According to IMS MAT September, 2014 sales data, Janssen's Prezista tablets had annual US sales of $1.2 billion.

This marks a second approval for the company in two weeks. The last one was to market a generic version of ViiV Healthcare's Epivir Tablets, used in treating HIV infection, in the American market.

At 09:57 a.m.; stock was at Rs 1434.05, up 0.37 per cent, on the BSE. It gained 0.9 per cent to touch high of Rs 1442 in early trade.