India’s Ranbaxy won approval to make and sell the anti-diabetes drug in U.S.

Indian pharmaceutical giant Ranbaxy said Friday it had received final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to make and sell the anti-diabetes drug glimipiride in the United States.

Glimepiride is the generic equivalent of Sanofi Aventis SA's anti-diabetic agent Amaryl, whose patent just expired. The brand has annual sales of about $350 million (Ђ287 million). Officials at the FDA and Aventis could not be immediately reached for comment.

Ranbaxy said in a statement that it had received approval to sell the tablets in doses of 1 milligram, 2 milligrams, 3 milligrams, 4 milligrams, 6 milligrams and 8 milligrams, reports the AP. I.L.