Orchid Enters Canadian Generics Market

Canada's Therapeutic Products Directorate has approved two generic drugs manufactured by Orchid Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals, the company announced.

The drugs are cefoxitin and ceftriaxone, both antibiotics. These product launches are part of an exclusive marketing agreement that the Indian company entered into with Apotex, Canada's leading generic drugmaker, in 2004. The companies have a similar arrangement involving the U.S. market.

"We are happy to foray into the Canadian generic segment with these approvals," Raghavendra Rao, managing director for Orchid, said. "With limited competition and a niche injectable product offering, we are confident of a sustainable revenue base from Canada. Given the track record of Apotex in garnering a major market share in the generic antibiotic injectable market in the U.S., we are optimistic that they would be able to replicate the same in the Canadian market, too."

Orchid said it will enhance its market presence in Canada further by launching additional generic cephalosporins and other products.