New Delhi, June 10: Ranbaxy and Dr Reddy’s — two of India’s largest pharmaceuticals firms – have finally won approvals from the US authorities to make and market ciprofloxacin — a generic form of an antibiotic discovered by Bayer.

The two Indian firms are among 11 pharmaceuticals majors that have secured approvals from the US Food and Drug Administration to make the generic drug ciprofloxacin, which has a market of $1.4 billion in the US.

Ranbaxy Laboratories’ Ltd announced that it had received a final approval from the US regulator to manufacture and market ciprofloxacin tablets in 250 mg, 500 mg and 750 mg dosages.

In India, Ranbaxy makes ciprofloxacin tablets under the brand name Cifran. It is indicated for the treatment of infections caused by susceptible strains of the designated micro-organisms for acute sinusitis and complicated intra-abdominal infections.