Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a privately held specialty pharmaceutical company, announced that the US Food and Drug Administration had granted tentative approval of adenosine injection, USP, the generic equivalent of Astellas Pharmaceuticals’ Adenoscan, in 60 mg per 20 mL and 90 mg per 30 mL vials. IMS data indicate that the 2009 US innovator market for these adenosine presentations approximated US$ 124 million. The company plans to launch the product upon expiry of applicable innovator patents.

Upon approval, adenosine will be launched under Sagent’s partnership with Strides Arcolab. Under this venture, Sagent and Strides Arcolab are jointly developing, supplying and marketing more than 25 injectable products for the US market. Strides is responsible for developing and manufacturing injectable products that Sagent will market in the United States.

Sagent Pharmaceuticals, founded in 2006, is a privately held specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing, manufacturing, sourcing and marketing pharmaceutical products, with a specific emphasis on injectable products.

Strides Arcolab is a global pharmaceutical company headquartered in Bangalore, India that develops and manufactures a wide range of IP-led niche pharmaceutical products with an emphasis on sterile injectables.