New cancer drug, Ethyol, from Sun Pharma

Drug maker Sun Pharmaceutical Industries on Monday said it has commercially launched generic Ethyol, used in the treatment of cancer.

Ethyol is the generic version of Medimmune's Ethyol amifostine injection, used for treating cancer, Sun Pharma informed the Bombay Stock Exchange, adding that the drug has an annual sales of 80 million dollars in the US.

The company's product is being sold in the United States by its marketing partner Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories, it added.

This generic amifostine injection is therapeutically equivalent to Medimmune's Ethyol amifostine injection of 500 mg strength, the company said.

Amifostine is used as an adjuvant in cancer treatment. Sun Pharma's amifostine injection would be used for reduction of kidney damage in patients who have advanced ovarian cancer.

On March 17, Sun Pharma had received US Food and Drug Administration's approval for marketing the generic Ethyol. The firm was the first-to-file an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for generic Ethyol and had an 180-day marketing exclusivity, the company said.

Ethyol is covered under three patents and this ANDA was filed against all the patents. Meanwhile, Medimmune has filed a suit in the District Court of Maryland and the case is under litigation, Sun Pharmaceutical said.