Alkermes alcohol drug gets Russian approval

A drug to treat alcoholism, manufactured by Alkermes Inc. has received marketing approval in Russia, the Cambridge-based company said today.

Russian regulatory authorities approved the marketing of Vivitrol, a once-monthly, extended-release injectable medication for the treatment of alcohol dependence. The drug will be manufactured by Alkermes and commercialized by Janssen-Cilag, an affiliate company of Cilag GmbH International, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson.

Approximately 10 million people in Russia are dependent on alcohol, according to a company release.

In April 2006, the US Food and Drug Administration approved Vivitrol. In the US, the drug is commercialized mainly by Cephalon Inc.
(By Elizabeth Campbell, Globe correspondent)