India's Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. said on Friday it has received tentative approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its tamsulosin hydrochloride capsules.

Tamsulosin, a generic equivalent of Flomax, is used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia. Annual U.S. sales for Flomax were $1.1 billion, Ranbaxy said in a statement.

We anticipate introducing this formulation with a 180-day period of exclusivity assuming the successful resolution of the patent litigation, said Jim Meehan, vice president of sales and marketing, Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Inc., a wholly-owned unit.