Raniclor (cefaclor) is the first and only cephalosporin chewable on the market, and is taken twice or three times a day, depending on the use. It is indicated for the treatment of bacterial infections, including otitis media, lower respiratory tract infections, pharyngitis/tonsillitis, and urinary tract infections.
Ranbaxy said that the formulation challenge with the new product was to develop a chewable version of the antibiotic that was palatable and did not require refrigeration. The branded version of the antibiotic, sold by originator Eli Lilly, is only available in oral suspension and capsule forms.
The launch fits with Ranbaxy's strategy of offering a stable of branded generic products that offer improvements over existing treatment modalities. Cefaclor was once Lilly's biggest product with global sales of around a billion dollars a year in the early 1990s, but recent data from IMS reveal that the US market for the antibiotic has now contracted to $16.7 million (€13.8m) in 2003.
Raniclor is available in 125mg, 187mg, 250mg, and 375mg strengths.