Wockhardt launches insomnia drug Zolpidem in the US

Our News Bureau - Mumbai

Wockhardt received USFDA approval for marketing Zolpidem tablets (the generic version of brand Ambien) in the US. Zolpidem tartrate is one of the most widely used medicines to treat insomnia (sleep disorder) and is safer than most other sleeping pills in replicating normal sleep patterns. Zolpidem, which is the generic name for the brand Ambien, sold by Sanofi-Aventis constitutes a market of about $2.2 billon in the US. "The key to our success in the competative US market is our ability to continuously add to the breadth and depth of our product portfolio," said Wockhardt Chairman Habil Khorakiwala.

Wockhardt manufactures Zolpidem tartrate API at its USFDA approved facility at Ankleshwar, Gujarat while the tablets are manufactured at the USFDA certified formulation plant at Waluj, Maharashtra. "With our strategic thrust, we are advancing in the US market at an accelerated pace, rightly established by the fact that Zolpidem is our twentieth product to be launched in the US market in addition to Wockhardt having received six USFDA approvals in the last two months alone," said Khorakiwala.

Wockhardt's US subsidiary, Wockhardt USA has been consistently increasing its market share in all products. Apart from Zolpidem, Wockhardt markets 19 products in the US, of which three injectables Ketorolac, Furosemide and new strengths of Ceftriaxone were launched recently. Very soon, Wockhardt will also be launching Lisinopril tablets in the US market.