Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Inc. (RPI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited (RLL), announced today that RLL has received tentative approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Esomeprazole Magnesium Delayed-Release Capsules, 20 mg (base) and 40 mg (base). Nexium® (Esomeprazole) is the second largest selling drug in the U.S. with total annual market sales of $5.5 billion (IMS – MAT: December 2007).

Ranbaxy believes that it has a FTF (First to File) status on the drug, providing it with a potential 180 days marketing exclusivity, thereby offering a significant opportunity in the future.

Esomeprazole is indicated for the short-term treatment (4 to 8 weeks) in the healing and symptomatic resolution of diagnostically confirmed erosive esophagitis, to maintain symptom resolution and healing of erosive esophagitis and for treatment of heartburn and other symptoms associated with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD),.

Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Inc. (RPI) based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited (RLL), India’s largest pharmaceutical company. RPI is engaged in the sale and distribution of generic and branded prescription products in the U.S. healthcare system.

Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited, headquartered in India, 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.


Nexium® is the registered trademark of Astra Zeneca

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