As many as 15 companies across the world have lined up generic variants of Pfizer's Zoloft (Sertaline HCL), for which the exclusive six-month marketing period granted to the successful patent challenger, Teva of Israel, ends on Tuesday.
In an indication of the rising might of Indian companies in the generics space, more than half of them -- eight to be precise -- are based in the country. These are Ranbaxy, Dr Reddy's Laboratories, Cipla, Zydus Cadila, Lupin, Aurobindo, Hetero Drugs and Sun Pharma, say industry executives.
In the 12 months ended July last year, depressive disorder drug Zoloft's sales amounted to $3.1 billion in the US, according to IMS, the global health-related data house.
Teva got to launch a generic variant of Zoloft and was to be the only company to pedal a generic version for six months following June last year, when Pfizer lost its patent protection for Sertaline Hydrochloride, which is the underlying molecule.
Interestingly,
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