CARACO ANNOUNCES TENTATIVE APPROVAL FOR ZOLPIDEM TARTRATE

The FDA has granted tentative approval to Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories for an abbreviated new drug application for Zolpidem Tartrate in 5- and 10-mg dosage strengths.

Final approval of this product is anticipated subsequent to the expiry of patent protection in October 2006. Caraco's Zolpidem Tartrate is the generic equivalent of sanofi-aventis' short- term insomnia treatment Ambien.