FDA Receives Tentative Alpharma Inc. Approval For Sertraline Hydrochloride Tablets

FORT LEE, N.J., Dec. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alpharma Inc. , a leading global specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted tentative approval for the company’s ANDA for sertraline hydrochloride 25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg tablets. Alpharma’s sertraline hydrochloride tablets are the AB-rated generic equivalent of Pfizer’s Zoloft(R) tablets, a product indicated for several disorders, including depression. Zoloft(R) tablet sales in 2004 were approximately $3 billion.

This tentative approval was received by the company’s U.S. Generic business. On October 17, 2005, the company announced that it had reached a definitive agreement to sell both its U.S. and International Generics businesses to Actavis Group.

Alpharma press releases are also available at our website: http://www.alpharma.com.

Alpharma Inc. is a global specialty pharmaceutical company with leadership positions in products for humans and animals. Alpharma is presently active in more than 60 countries. The company recently announced the sale of its global generics business and will be focusing in the future on its high margin specialty pharmaceutical businesses. Alpharma has a growing branded franchise in the chronic pain market with its morphine- based extended release KADIAN(R) product. In addition, Alpharma is among the world’s leading producers of several specialty pharmaceutical-grade bulk antibiotics and is internationally recognized as a leading provider of pharmaceutical products for poultry and livestock.

Alpharma Inc.

CONTACT: Kathleen Makrakis, VP, Investor Relations, +1-201-228-5085,kathleen.makrakis@alpharma.com

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