Glenmark gets US FDA nod for skin disease treatment cream

Pharma major Glenmark 's US Generics arm has received final abbreviated new drug approval (ANDA) from US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) for Imiquimod cream, used to treat certain skin diseases like solar keratoses and skin cancers.

Glenmark's Imiquimod cream is a copy of Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp's Aldara. The generic drug maker said it has started shipping the cream immediately upon US FDA approval.

For twelve months ended December 2011, Imiquimod cream had sales of about USD 244 million, Glenmark said, citing IMS Health data.The company currently has 77 products authorized for distribution in the US market and 40 ANDAs are pending approval from the FDA, it said.

Glenmark shares were down 2.4% at Rs 288 on NSE in morning trade on Wednesday.