Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced today that they have filed an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for carboplatin injection with the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

With the approval of the ANDA and expiration of the patent, the company will oversee the manufacturing and marketing of the platinum-based drug in the US.

Spectrum chairman and CEO Rajesh C Shrotriya said 'filing of the carboplatin injection ANDA marks the next step in our generic strategy'.

Carboplatin, which is marketed by Bristol-Myers Squibb, is a platinum anti-cancer drug. The exclusivity of carboplatin injection expires in 2004, while sales in the US continue to grow. They are estimated to be worth more than $600 million each year, as it is used in a wide variety of tumour types.