ST. LOUIS, Jan. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Mallinckrodt Inc. (NYSE: MKG) has
received FDA approval to market three dosage strengths of its generic brand of
methylphenidate hydrochloride in the United States and expects to begin
shipping the product to customers in late February or early March, according
to company officials.
Methylphenidate, more widely known by the name Ritalin, is commonly
prescribed for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD). Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDAs) for three immediate-release
dosage strengths of methylphenidate of 5, 10 and 20 mg. were approved recently
by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
"This represents an important addition to our dosage pharmaceutical line,"
said Michael J. Collins, president of Mallinckrodt's Pharmaceuticals Group.
"It broadens our product offering of selected dosage pharmaceuticals, which
includes a number of narcotic-based pain management products; makes it
possible for many of our pharmacy customers to purchase their scheduled
products from a single supplier; and positions us well in a segment of the
market that has tremendous growth potential."
Sales for all segments of the market for products used to treat ADHD,
including branded and generic as well as dosage and active methylphenidate,
were estimated at more than $650 million in 1998. The ADHD treatment market
is growing at an annual rate of about 20 percent.
Mallinckrodt's Pharmaceuticals Group is a basic supplier of raw material,
or bulk pharmaceuticals, as well as a manufacturer of a growing line of
generic form dosage products. The company's bulk pharmaceutical product lines
include acetaminophen, the pain reliever found in such over-the-counter
medicines as Tylenol, and natural narcotics, or opiates, such as codeine
phosphate, morphine sulfate, hydrocodone and oxycodone. Generic versions of
dosage products Mallinckrodt is now selling combine oxycodone or hydrocodone
and acetaminophen.
Based in St. Louis, Mo., Mallinckrodt Inc. has three healthcare product
operating groups: Imaging, Pharmaceuticals and Respiratory. The company
operates in more than 100 countries worldwide and had fiscal 1998 net sales of
$2.4 billion. The Mallinckrodt web site address is http://www.mallinckrodt.com.
SOURCE Mallinckrodt Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.mallinckrodt.com
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/440950.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 440950
CONTACT:
Media, Barbara Abbett, 314-654-5230, or
e-mail, Communications@mkg.com, or Investors, Barbara Gould,
314-654-3190, or e-mail, Invest@mkg.com, both of Mallinckrodt
Inc.
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