Bently gets Spanish OK for five generic drugs

USA-based drugmaker Bently Pharmaceuticals, which is currently the subject of a takeover bid by Denmark's Nycomed (see page 7), says it has received approval for five generic drugs from Spain's Ministry of Health. Products covered by the ruling, which will be sold by Bently's Spanish subsidiaries Laboratorios Rimafar, Laboratorios Davur and Laboratorios Belmac, include: the bone loss treatment alendronate; the high cholesterol agent lovastatin; the combined antihypertensive enalapril and hydrochlorothiazide; the osteoarthritis therapy glucosamine; and the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug aceclofenac. In addition, Bentley's Irish subsidiary has received approval from the Irish Medicines Board to sell generic simvastatin.