Lupin received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval (via its Novel Labs subsidiary) for its hydrocodone/acetaminophen tablets at dosages of 5 mg/325 mg, 7.5 mg/325 mg and 10 mg/325 mg on 1 December 2017.

The drug is a combination of an opioid pain medication, hydrocodone, with paracetamol (acetaminophen). It is used as a prescription drug to relieve moderate to severe acute, chronic or postoperative pain.

Norco had US sales of US$710 million for the 12-month period ending June 2017, according to IMS Health data.

This latest launch is just one of many from generics maker Lupin, which is the fourth largest pharmaceutical player in the US by prescriptions. It is India’s second largest and the world’s seventh largest generics maker. It is also expanding its presence around the world. In August 2017, it bought 21 generic brands from Japanese company Shionogi & Co [1]. Lupin is also foraying into the world of biosimilars and has made deals with Australian biotech firm Neuclone to access cell line technology to be used to develop biosimilar drugs targeting cancer [2] and with Japanese generics maker Yoshindo for a biosimilars joint venture in Japan [3].

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References
1. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Indian generics manufacturer Lupin buys 21 brands from Japan’s Shionogi [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2017 Oct 27]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Generics/General/Indian-generics-manufacturer-Lupin-buys-21-brands-from-Japan-s-Shionogi
2. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Lupin and Neuclone biosimilars agreement [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2017 Oct 27]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/News/Lupin-and-Neuclone-biosimilars-agreement
3. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Lupin and Yoshindo start biosimilars joint venture [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2017 Oct 27]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/News/Lupin-and-Yoshindo-start-biosimilars-joint-venture

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