Wockhardt, Dr Reddy's launch generic Ondansetron in the US

27 December 2006

Two Indian drugs majors have launched generic versions of a drug used in controlling nausea and vomiting in cancer patients, following the expiry of Glaxo SmithKline''s product patent on the successful product in the American market.

Wockhardt USA Inc, the US subsidiary of India''s leading pharmaceutical company, launched Ondansetron injection in the US market on December 26, the first working day after the patent for the product expired on December 24.

Ondansetron is the generic version of Glaxo SmithKline''s Zofran injection and is used in controlling nausea and vomiting following cancer chemotherapy.

"This is Wockhardt's eighth product approval from US FDA in 2006 and the third injection product in the US market," said Wockhardt chairman Habil Khorakiwala. "We now market 15 products in the US, 10 of them launched during 2006."

Ondansetron is the largest selling anti-emetic product in the world. Sales of Zofran injection in the US during the 12 months ending September 30, 2006, were $628 million. The injection is manufactured at the US FDA-certified sterile formulation plant at Waluj in Aurangabad, India. Wockhardt has two other sterile formulation plants approved by the FDA in India and the UK.

Wockhardt is one of the few companies with end-to-end integrated capabilities for its products, starting with manufacture of the oral and sterile APIs (active pharmaceutical ingredients), the dosage forms and marketing them through a wholly-owned subsidiary in the US, enabling the company to capture maximum value.