Gurgaon, Dec 01, 2011: Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ranbaxy Laboratories, has received final approval from the US Food and Drug Administration to manufacture and market Atorvastatin and has launched the product in the US market. Atorvastatin is a cholesterol reducing medicine, the generic equivalent of the brand Lipitor, which generated total annual sales of $7.89 billion in the US through September 2011.

Mr Arun Sawhney, CEO & managing director, Ranbaxy, stated, "Atorvastatin helps millions of Americans manage healthy cholesterol levels, and we are pleased to have received FDA approval to manufacture and market a safe, effective, affordable and accessible alternative to branded Lipitor. We

are committed to continuing to expand our portfolio of products offered in the US market for the benefit of patients, prescribers and the US healthcare system."

Pursuant to an agreement between Ranbaxy and Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, a portion of the profits from sales of Atorvastatin during Ranbaxy’s 180-day first-to-file exclusivity period will be paid to Teva. Additional terms of the agreement will not be disclosed.