FDA approves generic Valsartan amid drug shortage

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday approved a new generic of heart medicine Valsartan and said it prioritized the drug's review to help relieve recent shortage as manufacturers around the world have pulled the treatment from the market. Several drugmakers, including Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd and Mylan NV, have recalled batches of Valsartan as the drugs have been found to contain probable carcinogens. The approval of the generic, Diovan, was granted to Alkem Laboratories Ltd, the FDA said in a statement. (Reporting by Tamara Mathias in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel)