The generic versions of the Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical company, Astrazeneca’s anti-ulcer drug Prilosec 40 mg will be introduced by India’s Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited in the United States. The Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical company made Ranbaxy a legal generics partner following an agreement in April.

This connotes that the India’s largest pharmaceutical company Ranbaxy can market its generic drugs for 180 days prior the patent expiry of Prilosec. Watson Pharma of United States, however, which was the very first generic company to effectively challenge the patent of Prilosec, will also have exclusive marketing rights during the 180 day period.

A statement issued by the Ranbaxy Company stated that as per the IMS figures, the yearly sale of Prilosec 40 mg in the United States is about $204 million. Ranbaxy’s shares at the BSE closed at Rs 494.20, up 2.6% from Friday’s close.