Mylan subsidiary gets OK for generic Aricept

PITTSBURGH — Another generic drug maker has been given the green light to market its version of an Alzheimer's disease treatment.

Mylan said that its subsidiary, Matrix Labs, has received final approval from the Food and Drug Administration to manufacture and market donepezil hydrochloride tablets in 5-mg and 10-mg strengths. The drug, a generic version of Pfizer and Eisai's Aricept, is used to treat dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease. Mylan said it will launch the product immediately.

Such generic drug makers as Teva, Sandoz, Actavis and Ranbaxy all recently have received approval to market their version of the drug, which had U.S. sales of about $2.3 billion for the 12-month period ended in March.