Akorn-Strides files for generic drug

Akorn-Strides, a joint venture company formed between Akorn of US and Bangalore-based Strides Arcolab, has submitted its first Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) with the Office of Generic Drugs.

The proposed drug product is a parenteral (not in or through the digestive system) injectable supporting the anti-emetic (a medicine that prevents or controls nausea and vomiting) market, which currently has annual sales of approximately $600 million. Patent protection for the reference-listed drug expires in September 2008.

Akorn, in the US, manufactures and markets sterile specialty pharmaceuticals and has manufacturing facilities located in Decatur, Illinois and Somerset, New Jersey and markets and distributes a line of hospital and ophthalmic pharmaceuticals.

Arthur S Przybyl, Akorn's president and chief executive officer in a statement said, "this new product submission is a milestone event for our joint venture and represents a successful collaborative effort between Strides Arcolab and Akorn. The joint venture has several additional product submissions in queue for filing in 2006."

Strides Arcolab, focussed on finished dosages, has a global presence in more than 50 countries. The company has factories in India, Brazil, Mexico and USA. The company supplies to a number of geographic locations including Latin America, UK, South East Asia, Africa, Australia and Russia.

According to Arun Kumar, executive vice chairman and managing director of Strides Arcolab "The first ANDA filing is an important milestone for the Akorn-Strides joint venture, which further strengthens the partnership between Akorn and Strides."