Pharmaceutical firm Sun Pharma on Wednesday said it has commercially launched Pantoprazole tablets in the United States, used for treating oesophagus ailments.
The generic version of Wyeth?s Protonix, the Pantoprazole tablets, would be available in 40 mg strength, the company said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange.
Sun Pharma had received a US FDA approval for these tablets in September 2007 and this strength of Pantoprazole Sodium has annual sales of around 2.3 billion dollar in the US.
The Pantoprazole Sodium Delayed Release Tablets is being marketed by Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories.
Last year in September, the company had received approval from the US FDA for the abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) of Pantoprazole tablets.
Pantoprazole is indicated for short-term treatment of erosive oesophagitis and hypersecretory conditions.
Sun Pharmaceutical shares a 180-day period or marketing exclusivity with Teva for this product. The company is currently involved in a patent litigation with Wyeth and Altana (now Nycomed) concerning this product in the US district court.
Though no trial date has yet been set, in September 2007, the district court denied a motion filed by Wyeth and Altana for a preliminary injunction related to the Sun?s Pantoprazole tablets.
Sun?s launch was initiated after the commercial launch by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and Wyeth of generic Pantoprazole Sodium tablets product.
Shares of Sun Pharma were trading at Rs 1,125, up 6.22 per cent on the BSE in afternoon trade.
