Aurobindo Pharma, one of the largest API manufacturers in Asia, on Wednesday received its first approval from Swissmedic, Government of Switzerland for the license of Finasteride APL Tablets 5mg.

The drug is generic equivalent of MERCK & CO., Inc's Proscar Tablet.

Finasteride APL Tablet 5mg is used alone or in combination with another medication to treat benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH, enlargement of the prostate gland). The drug is seen very effective in symptoms of BPH such as frequent and difficult urination. In addition, it also may decrease the chance of needing prostate surgery.

Further, the drug is also used to treat male pattern hair loss (a common condition in which men have gradual thinning of the hair on the scalp, leading to a receding hairline or balding on the top of the head.)

Earlier this month, Aurobindo Pharma has secured a tentative approval from the U. S. Food and Drug Administration to sell its emtricitabine and tenofovir disproxil fumarate combination drug in tablet form. The anti-HIV drug is the generic version of Gilead Sciences Inc's branded drug Truvada.

On the same day, the company got another nod for its Topiramate tablets in 25mg, 50mg, 100mg and 200mg strengths from the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA).

The drug is generic equivalent of Ortho McNeil Janssen Pharmaceuticals' Topamax tablets and indicated for the treatment of epilepsy in both children and adults.