Mumbai-based pharmaceutical firm Lupin is gearing to tap opportunities to the tune of up to USD 200 million in the US oral contraceptives market, despite patent litigation from rivals on its plans to sell generic drugs there.

"The oral contraceptives (OCs) market in the US is valued at around USD 4 billion and growing at around 10 per cent annually...This is a segment where it makes sense to have a complete basket of products so that one can drive serious value into the market and Lupin would be one of the few innovators to drive it in," Lupin Group President and Executive Director to the Board Nilesh Gupta said in an emailed interview.

The company has filed four more abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs) with the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) to sell the generic version of several OCs bringing its total current filing number at 11.

The company plans to file another 10 ANDAs in the next 6-7 months. It expects the first approval by 2011-12 – the time it can enter the US market.

"Over the years to come there is no reason to believe that it (OCs) would not account for USD 100¿200 million for Lupin," Gupta said.