Strides Arcolab arm gets US FDA nod for chemotherapy drug

Moneycontrol Bureau

Onco Therapies, a wholly owned unit of Strides Arcolab, has received US Foods and Drugs Administration (FDA) approval for Gemcitabine injection, a generic version of chemotherapy drug Gemzar marketed by Eli Lilly and Co. Gemzar is indicated for treatment of ovarian cancer, breast cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. Gemcitabine is the first product to be approved from its Oncology facility in Bangalore, which was certified by for compliance by the US FDA in May 2011, Strides Arcolab said. The drug is a part of the oncology portfolio licensed to Pfizer for the US market in January last year and will be launched immediately, it said. The US market for Gemcitabine is around USD 700 million as per March data, the company said. Strides Arcolab shares were traded up 3.2% at Rs 379.50 on NSE in morning trade.