Wockhardt to market generic of GSK Parkinson's drug

Mumbai: Pharmaceutical and biotechnology major Wockhardt received US FDA approval for marketing 2mg, 4mg, 6mg, 8mg and 12mg extended-release tablets with generic version of GlaxoSmithKline's Requip XL (Ropinirole hydrochloride), used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Dr Habil Khorakiwala, founder chairman and group CEO, Wockhardt, said that, "This is the sixth US FDA approval for Wockhardt in the past two weeks. Three of these have been for extended-release products. This continues to demonstrate Wockhardt's capability in developing technologically challenging products" he further added.

In the US generic pharmaceutical market, Wockhardt has been consistently growing market shares for all its products. In many instances, Wockhardt, by virtue of being amongst the few players to market technically challenging products has reaped the advantage of being an early entrant.

Wockhardt will be manufacturing the extended release tablets of Ropinirole at its facility in Aurangabad, India. The technology for the tablets was developed in-house.