Hikma Pharmaceuticals US subsidiary launches GERD treatment

Hikma Pharmaceuticals' wholly-owned US subsidiary, West-Ward Pharmaceuticals, has launched pantoprazole sodium for injection, 40mg, in the US for the short-term treatment of adult patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and a history of erosive esophagitis.

According to IMS Health, US sales of pantoprazole sodium for injection were around $104m in the 12 months ending August 2017.

Riad Mechlaoui, Hikma's chief executive officer of Injectables, said: "We are very pleased to launch pantoprazole sodium for injection, reducing the shortage of this product in the US market. We are successfully executing our injectables pipeline and leveraging the additional capacity we have been adding to our Portuguese facility to support future growth."

At 1125 BST, the shares were up 0.1% to 1,124p.