Dr Reddy’s Laboratories plans to launch Lipitor generic in the first quarter of the next fiscal, the news reports said. The pharmaceutical company is ready with a plan to approach the market, though it is restrained for now by the exclusivity granted to Ranbaxy.

The pharmaceutical company Ranbaxy’s 180-day exclusivity started on November 30.  The company officials were not ready to comment and speculate on the timeline of the launch of the drug. In 2009, Dr Reddy’s had sought the US drug regulator’s approval to launch the generic Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium).

Pfizer sued Dr Reddy’s and sought to stop the generic version from hitting the market atleast till one of the patents on the drug lapsed in 2017. Meanwhile, in August 2011, Dr Reddy’s and Pfizer moved further with a settlement. Pfizer is the innovator and patent holder.

According to the company, though the terms of the settlement were not divulged, it was said that the generic versions of the drug, including those of Dr Reddy’s will be allowed by the innovator after the expiry of an exclusivity arrangement it had with Ranbaxy in 2008. Lipitor has a market of over $1.5 billion in the US alone, at the innovator’s price.

 Dr Reddy’s has announced the launch of Supamove cream, which helps in reducing pain and inflammation in patients with joint pain, arthritis, bursitis, tendinitis, and lower back pain. It plans to also move into newer segments like pain management. The product has been in-licensed from the US-based Cymbiotics Inc and will be available in a 30 gm tube.

The pharma company has also strengthened its emollients and protective product portfolio with the launch of Venusia soft lotion. Dr.Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd is an integrated pharmaceutical company that provides medicines through its business segments like global generics segment, pharmaceutical services and active ingredients segment and proprietary products segment.