India's Wockhardt says gets US nod for zolpidem

MUMBAI, May 21 (Reuters) - India's Wockhardt (WCKH.BO: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said on Monday it had received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval to sell zolpidem tablets, used in the treatment of sleep disorders, in the United States.

Zolpidem, the generic version of France's Sanofi-Aventis (SASY.PA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) blockbuster Ambien, has a $2.2 billion market in the U.S., Wockhardt said.

Last month, the FDA cleared Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. (RANB.BO: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd. (REDY.BO: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and 11 other drug makers to make generic versions of Ambien.

((Reporting by Devidutta Tripathy, editing by Mark Williams; Reuters Messaging: devidutta.tripathy.reuters.com@reuters.net; +91 22 6636 9031)) Keywords: WOCKHARDT ZOLPIDEM/

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