Wockhardt gets USFDA nod for antibiotic

Pharmaceutical and biotechnology major Wockhardt Ltd has received approval from the United States Food & Drug Administration for marketing cefuroxime axetil in the US.

The company's US subsidiary, Wockhardt US Inc, is expected to launch this broad-spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic tablets in the country over few weeks. As per IMS data, the current market for this product in the US is $58 million.

Chairman Habil Khorakiwala said, US is one of the fastest growing markets for Wockhardt.

"Our US formulation business grew by over 150 per cent in the first half of 2005 and we have another 12 drug applications pending with the US FDA. We have improved our market share in two of its key products in the US in recent months."

As per the latest IMS data, Wockhardt's market share in bethenechol chloride in the US improved to 37 per cent from 17 per cent and enalapril market share improved from 6 per cent to 16 per cent.