Ranbaxy Receives Final Approval To Market Benazepril Hydrochloride + HCTZ Tablets

PRINCETON, N.J., Sept. 9 /PRNewswire/ — Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Inc. (RPI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited (RLL), announced today that RLL has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to manufacture and market Benazepril Hydrochloride and Hydrochlorothiazide Tablets, 5 mg/6.25 mg, 10 mg/12.5 mg, 20 mg/12.5 mg and 20 mg/25 mg. The Office of Generic Drugs, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, has determined the Ranbaxy formulations to be bioequivalent and have the same therapeutic effect as that of the reference listed drug Lotensin HCT(R) Tablets, 5 mg/6.25 mg, 10 mg/12.5 mg/ 20 mg/12.5 mg and 20 mg/25 mg, respectively, of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. Total annual market sales for Benazepril were $102.1 million, of which the combination of Benazepril HCl and Hydrochlorothiazide accounted for $26.2 million or 26 percent of the total Benazepril market (IMS – MAT: June 2005).

Benazepril Hydrochloride and Hydrochlorothiazide Tablets are indicated for the treatment of hypertension.

“We are pleased to receive this final approval for Benazepril Hydrochloride and Hydrochlorothiazide Tablets, which will further expand our growing portfolio of affordable generic products in the cardiovascular arena. The product will be launched when sufficient quantities are manufactured to meet the demands of the market,” according to Jim Meehan, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for RPI.

Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Inc. (“RPI”) based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited (“RLL”), India’s largest pharmaceutical company. RPI is engaged in the sale and distribution of generic and branded prescription products in the U.S. healthcare system.

Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited, headquartered in India, is an integrated, research based, international pharmaceutical company producing a wide range of quality, affordable generic medicines, trusted by healthcare professionals and patients across geographies. Ranbaxy’s continued focus on R&D has resulted in several approvals in developed markets and significant progress in New Drug Discovery Research. The Company’s foray into Novel Drug Delivery Systems has led to proprietary “platform technologies”, resulting in a number of products under development. The Company is serving its customers in over 100 countries and has an expanding international portfolio of affiliates, joint ventures and alliances, ground operations in 44 countries and manufacturing operations in 7 countries

* Lotensin HCT(R) is a registered trademark of Novartis Pharmaceuticals

Corp.

Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Inc.

CONTACT: Charles M. Caprariello, Vice President, CorporateCommunications of Ranbaxy Inc., +1-609-720-5615; Edwige Buteau,+1-212-994-7517, or Anuj Baveja, +1-212-994-7552, both of RF Binder PartnersInc.

Web site: http://www.ranbaxy.com/