The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has provided tentative approval to Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Inc. to make and market the generic version of dementia treatment Razadyne.

Razadyne – formerly known as Reminyl and also known as galantamine hydrobromide – is currently made by Janssen Pharmaceutica Inc. Galantamine hydrobromide is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. While not a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, it has proven in drug trials to offer improvements in long-term functional abilities and in behavior of people with mild to moderate dementia associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Inc., a subsidiary of Ranbaxy Laboratories, will have six months of exclusivity for making and selling the drug. It will produce it in 4- , 8- and 12-milligram tablet forms starting Dec. 14, 2008, when the patent on it begins to expire.