Ranbaxy debuts first approved generic of Nexium in the UK

The UK subsidiary of India's largest drugmaker Ranbaxy (RANB: BO) says that it has successfully launched esomeprazole 20mg and 40mg tablets, the first approved generic bio-equivalent version of Anglo-Swedish drug major AstraZeneca’s (LSE: AZN) heartburn and ulcer drug Nexium. The drug has annual UK sales of £60 million ($97.2 million), according to IMS Health data.

Commenting on the development, Debashis Dasgupta, regional director of Ranbaxy Europe, said: “We are committed to bringing high quality, affordable medicines for the benefit of patients and healthcare systems worldwide and in Europe. The introduction of esomeprazole, in the UK, is an important and significant step in this direction.”

The product will be offered through pharmacies, retail and wholesale stores with immediate effect. Esomeprazole is used in the treatment of dyspepsia, peptic ulcer disease (PUD), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD/GERD) and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.