The announcement by the USFDA approving Ranbaxy's generic Lipitor was as dramatic as the company's journey to launch the product.
The USFDA put out a press release initially announcing the approval but later withdrew it sending the media into a tizzy.
The USFDA spokesperson said that the press release was issued in error and the approval has not been given. But just a few minutes later, the same press release was reloaded on the Web site.
When contacted, Ms Sandy Walsh, spokesperson for USFDA, told Business Line , “An error was made by our newswire vendor, they sent out a press release prematurely so they had to ask reporters to disregard it. Yes, now we indeed have approved Ranbaxy's atorvastatin. The press release is up on our Web site and is correct.”