A company press release said that Wockhardt's product, a generic equivalent tablet of Merck's brand, Vasotec, was made available on US shelves from August 23, 2000. Enalapril is one of the largest selling cardiac durgs in the world, with global sales of US $ 2.5 billion and US sales of over $ 900 million. It is used in the treatment of hypertension and congestive cardiac failure.

The drug is second in the series of products to be marketed in joint venture with the New Jersey-based Sidmak and will have the names and logos of both Wockhardt and Sidmak on the label, a Wockhardt release said.

Wockhardt's product is being manufactured and packaged at its US FDA approved facility at Aurangabad, and is based on its own bulk drug, which is manufactured at Ankleshwar. Wockhardt chairman, Habil F Khorakiwala said, "This FDA approval and launch of our product is a reflection of the global standards set and maintained by Wockhardt in all its products and manufacturing systems. Our arrangement with Sidmak is also very unique because its offers wide visibility to the Wackhardt brand on one hand and also allows us an equal share in the profits made in the US market on the other."

The company is also working on four products which are under review by the FDA while work on another four products is under process, Khorakiwala added.

Wockhardt's research thrust continues with a total of 19 drug master files (DMFs) and abbreviated new drug application (ANDAs) filed or approved with the US FDA.

The company's scientists have also filed over 20 world/US patents for products and technologies involving Novel Drug Delivery Systems (NDDS) or for New Chemical Entities (NCE), the release added.