Rannbaxy Laboratories Ltd announced that it has launched the generic versions of Atorvastatin tablets in Italy, Sweden and the Netherlands.

This is in line with its settlement agreement with Pfizer whereby Ranbaxy had got permission to launch the product ahead of the applicable patent expiries. Pfizer's patent expires in Italy on May 8 and in the Netherlands and Sweden on May 06.

Atorvastatin, a cholesterol reducing drug, is the largest selling pharmaceutical product in Italy with sales of $377 Million. The market size for Atorvastatin in the Netherlands is $164.4 million and in Sweden $55 million and is the largest selling Statin product in these two markets.

Ranbaxy will be promoting the drug directly to all channel partners including retail pharmacies and wholesalers in Italy and the Netherlands. In Sweden the company will be offering its drug through the official pricing and reimbursement scheme covering generic medicines, to all retail pharmacies.

Earlier on November 30, 2011, Ranbaxy launched Atorvastatin, a generic version of Lipitor, in the US market with 180 days of marketing exclusivity, as it was a First-to-File (FTF) applicant for the product. Recently, in February 2012, Ranbaxy became the first company to launch generic Atorvastatin in Australia with 3 months exclusivity.

German market

The German subsidiary of Ranbaxy on Tuesday launched Atorvastatin Basics, a generic version of the cholesterol lowering drug Sortis. Ranbaxy had obtained, pursuant to a settlement agreement with Pfizer, the rights to an early entry of Atorvastatin in the German market. Pfizer's patent for Sortis expires in Germany on May 7.

Daiichi Sankyo will assist in the launch in Germany since it has a substantial reach amongst cardiologists and physicians. Apart from Germany, Daiichi Sankyo and Ranbaxy are working on synergies in other countries, such as India, Romania, Italy and Mexico, among others.

> tkt@thehindu.co.in

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