Lupin gets US health regulator approval for generic schizophrenia drug

Pharmaceutical major Lupin has received approval from US health regulator to sell generic version of Seroquel XR tablets, used to treat schizophrenia in the US markets.

Lupin Ltd said in a statement that the company has received the final approval for marketing it’s Quetiapine Fumarate tablets in varying strengths from the United States Food and Drug Administration(FDA).

The product of the company which is Mumbai based, is the generic counterpart to the Seroquel XR tablets made by AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP which is used for treatment of schizophrenia.

Seroquel XR extended release tablets sales were recorded at USD 1.27 billion as per the IMS MAT March sales data. Lupin’s shares were 0.61 per cent up today at Rs 1,304 .90 at the BSE.

A person suffering from Schizophrenia loses the ability to think, feel or behave normally. it is a complex mental illness. The patient is usually unaware of his illness and appears to live in a “distorted world” which is cut off from reality.

This illness is seen more commonly in men than in women with men developing this disorder in their late teens and early twenties while in women, this illness seems to develop later during their thirties. Schizophrenia is now perceived to be a brain disorder rather than a purely psychological illness.

Schizophrenia is treated on a long-term basis and is multi- faceted.Iit is based not only on medical treatment but also focuses on the psychological, behavioural and social rehabilitation of the patient.