TOTOWA, N.J., April 27 (UPI) -- The U.S. unit of Icelandic firm Actavis Group said Friday it has launched a generic version of Sanofi-Aventis's sleep drug Ambien to the U.S. market.
The company said its subsidiary Carlsbad Technology was approved by the Food and Drug Administration to sell zolpidem tartrate tablets in 5-mg and 10-mg strengths.
Actavis said it will market the generic insomnia drug in the United States pursuant to an agreement with CTI, and that distribution will begin immediately.
The company estimated U.S. sales of the brand drug at approximately $2.2 billion for the 12 months ending December 2006, quoting data from IMS Health.
Last week, Mylan was approved on a generic version of Ambien, and Barr said earlier this month it has initiated a patent challenge to Ambien, as it prepares to grab its own share of the generic market.
