Sandoz gets FDA nod for Altavera

PRINCETON, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved an oral contraceptive made by Sandoz, the company said Friday.

Sandoz, the generics division of Swiss drug maker Novartis, announced the approval of Altavera (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol) tablets, a generic version of Duramed’s Nordette.

Branded and generic versions of Nordette had sales of about $57.4 million during the 12-month period ended in February, according to IMS Health.