FDA gives Sun Pharma go-ahead to manufacture generic version of cancer drug Gleevec

The FDA has given Sun Pharmaceutical Industries approval to manufacture and market 100-milligram and 400-milligram tablets of its generic version of the expensive cancer drug Gleevec. The drug was originally developed and marketed by Swiss drugmaker Novartis ($NVS) in 2003 to treat chronic myeloid leukemia, a usually fatal blood cancer. In an earnings call, Sun management said it has shifted its Gleevec product filings from its troubled Halol facility, which has been under the FDA microscope for a number of violations. The regulatory agency said Sun can begin marketing the generic Feb. 1. It's expected other generic drugmakers in India, such as Dr. Reddy's ($RDY), will begin making a Gleevec generic by the second half of 2016. More from FiercePharmaAsia | Economic Times story