Ranbaxy gets tentative FDA nod for Donepezil copy

Indian Drug maker Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd has won tentative approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) to make a generic version of Eisai Co Ltd's Alzheimer's treatment Aricept, the regulator's Web site showed.
The U.S. patent on Aricept, which is co-marketed with Pfizer Inc., runs out in November 2010.
Aricept, known generically as donepezil hydrochloride, garnered some $2.3 billion in sales for Eisai in the year ended March 31.