Hi-Tech Pharmacal Co. Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company developing, manufacturing and marketing branded and generic products, has acquired the rights in the US and Canada to the Choice DM brand name from Novartis AG.

Hi-Tech will market a line of Choice DM nutritional supplements and beverages specially formulated to meet the dietary needs of diabetes patients, through its OTC division, Health Care Products. The company plans to begin marketing products under the Choice DM name within the next few months, a Hi-Tech release stated.

David Seltzer, president and CEO of Hi-Tech commented on the acquisition: "We are very excited about the acquisition of the rights to the Choice DM brand name. We believe we will capitalize on the high level of brand awareness among diabetes patients and their care-givers. We see a very strong synergy between Choice DM and our existing line of diabetes related products, which includes the number one diabetic cough medication, Diabetic Tussin. With the addition of the Choice DM offerings we will be able to provide a more complete line of products to diabetes patients, and better fulfil Health Care Product's mission to, "Help People with Diabetes Live Healthier Lives".