Alembic Pharma's partner launches drug for depressive disorder

New Delhi : Drug firm Alembic Pharmaceuticals said its partner Breckenridge Pharma has launched desvenlafaxine succinate extended release tablets used in treatment of major depressive disorder.

Alembic Pharma had received approval of its ANDA of desvenlafaxine succinate extended release tablets of strengths 50 mg and 100 mg in June 2015.

These are therapeutically equivalent to Pristiq of Pfizer.

"The ANDA was filed as a Paragraph IV on the first-to file date and will share 180 day exclusivity with other ANDA first fillers," Alembic Pharma said in a regulatory filing.

"The paragraph IV litigation was settled on terms that are confidential," it added.

Alembic further said it is the manufacturer of ANDA which will be marketed by Breckenridge.

Desvenlafaxine is a prescription drug used in the treatment of major depressive disorder, and is in the class of medications called selective serotonin and neropinephrine reuptake inhibitors, it added.

Shares of Alembic were trading at Rs 603.10, up 1.06 per cent from the previous close on BSE.