Mylan's generic Zyvox tablets receive FDA approval

Mylan brought its generic form of Pfizer's bacteria-fighting drug Zyvox to market on Tuesday.

The generic drug maker's 600 mg linezolid tablets has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat infections caused by susceptible Gram-positive bacteria in children and adults. The drug is an antibiotic for serious bacterial infections that are resistant to other kinds of antibiotics. This includes community-acquired pneumonia and skin infections.

Antibiotic resistant bacterial infections are prevalent in the United States as approximately 2 million individuals contract these infections every year with around 23,000 losing their lives as a result.

The linezolid tablets are among many abbreviated new drug applications that Mylan has filed with the FDA. The pharmaceutical company is currently waiting on the FDA to approve more than 260 of these applications that would amount to roughly $100 billion in annual brand sales. Over the last year, linezolid tablets have produced more than $457 million in sales within the United States.

Mylan offers its product line of more than 1,400 generic and branded drugs to retail, government, institutional and wholesale customers across 165 countries and territories. The company is dedicated to providing 7 billion people with access to high-quality, affordable medicines.