Granules inks pact with Par Pharma for acid reflux drug

Granules USA, a subsidiary of Granules India, today said it has entered into an agreement with Par Pharmaceutical to market generic version of OTC omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate in North American market.
The company said it expects the US Food and Drug Administration's approvals by July this year.
Par Pharmaceutical's, a subsidiary of Endo International plc, omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate is the generic version of Merck/MSD Consumer Care Inc's Zegerid.
Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) that decreases the production of stomach acid. Sodium bicarbonate is an antacid that raises stomach pH to keep the omeprazole from breaking down in stomach acid.

"...Through this exclusive agreement with Par Pharmaceutical, we can strengthen our OTC product basket and widen our offerings in the North American store brand market for meeting retailers' and consumers' desire for competitive market choices and alternatives," CMD Granules India Ltd Krishna Prasad Chigurupati said.
Robert Fisher, President of Consumer Health division of Granules USA said, "Continuing to reduce healthcare costs through our partnership with retailers, Granules is happy to offer consumers affordable medication choices."
Shares of the company were trading 3.42 per cent up at 120.95 on BSE.