Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited announced the day-1 launch of its first independently developed generic product, Amlodipine tablets 2.5mg & 5mg in Japan.

Amlodipine is currently the largest molecule which has gone off patent in Japan and represents the biggest generic opportunity so far in the Japanese generic market. The product has a market size of around USD 2 billion (Jan-December, 2007 - IMS - Japan), a Ranbaxy press release said.

Commenting on the launch, Malvinder Mohan Singh, CEO & managing director, Ranbaxy, said, "It is yet another first for Ranbaxy in the Japanese market and reflects our techno-commercial strengths and capabilities in the Japanese market. The present reform process by the Government of Japan is encouraging generic substitution, and Ranbaxy is well positioned to offer its affordable generic alternatives to the Japanese healthcare system."

Earlier during the year Ranbaxy had received authorization from the Ministry of Health and Labour Welfare (MHLW-Japan) for marketing the generic version of Amlodipine tablets 2.5mg & 5mg.

The results of the reform process by the Government of Japan is reflected in the growing genericization of medicines. The generics market is expected to touch 30 per cent by volume by 2012. Ranbaxy already has a total of 4 products in the Japanese generics market. The company has a strong portfolio of products that will be introduced during 2008 and 2009. Since 2004, Ranbaxy has filed 7 products in Japan and so far has 100 per cent success rate in getting approvals, the release added.