FDA approves Elite Pharmaceuticals' opioid painkiller

NORTHVALE, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a regulatory approval application from Elite Pharmaceuticals for an opioid painkiller, the drug maker said Wednesday.

Elite announced the FDA approval of its supplemental application for the manufacture and packaging of naltrexone hydrochloride tablets in the 50-mg strength. The company said the approval would allow it to start manufacturing and packaging the drug for its sales and marketing partner, Mikah Pharma, from which it bought rights to the drug in September 2010.

The drug is a generic version of Duramed's Revia. The branded drug and generic versions had sales of about $16 million in 2012, according to IMS Health.

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