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Ohm Laboratories to Market in OTC Private Label Market
GURGAON, India | April 25, 2008 | Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited (RLL) announced today that the Company has received final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to manufacture and market Cetirizine Hydrochloride Oral Solution (Allergy) and Children’s Cetirizine Hydrochloride Oral Solution (Hives-Relief), 1 mg/mL (OTC). The Office of Generic Drugs, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, has determined the Ohm formulation to be bioequivalent and have the same therapeutic effect as that of the reference listed drug Children’s Zyrtec Oral Solution (Allergy) and Children’s Zyrtec Oral Solution (Hives-Relief), 1mg/mL of McNeil Consumer Healthcare. Total annual market sales for Cetirizine Hydrochloride Syrup as a prescription only product were $157 million (IMS – MAT: December 2007).
Cetirizine Hydrochloride is indicated for the temporary relief of runny nose, sneezing, itching of the nose or throat, and itchy, watery eyes due to hay fever or other upper respiratory allergies. Other indications include relief from itching due to hives (urticaria).
"We are pleased to receive this final approval for Cetirizine Hydrochloride Oral Solution that has proven its clinical value and utility in both adults and children. We are pleased to offer this preferred formulation that will meet the needs of all patients who need this medication in response to allergic reactions as an over-the-counter product. This product formulation further expands our portfolio of affordable generic alternatives and will be launched immediately to all classes of trade participating in the OTC private label market," said Jim Meehan, Vice President of Sales and Distribution for Ohm Laboratories, USA, a wholly owned subsidiary company of Ranbaxy.
Ohm, based in North Brunswick, New Jersey, USA, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited (RLL), India’s largest pharmaceutical company. Ohm is engaged in the sale and distribution of generic and branded private label, OTC products in the U.S. healthcare system.
Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited, India's largest pharmaceutical company, is an integrated, research based, international pharmaceutical company producing a wide range of quality, affordable generic medicines, trusted by healthcare professionals and patients across geographies. Ranbaxy’s continued focus on R&D has resulted in several approvals in developed markets and significant progress in New Drug Discovery Research. The Company’s foray into Novel Drug Delivery Systems has led to proprietary "platform technologies," resulting in a number of products under development. The Company is serving its customers in over 125 countries and has an expanding international portfolio of affiliates, joint ventures and alliances, ground operations in 49 countries and manufacturing operations in 11 countries.
*Children’s Zyrtec® Oral Solution is a registered trademark of McNeil Consumer Healthcare.
SOURCE: RANBAXY LABORATORIES |
