Indian drug regulator on Monday approved pharmaceuticals giant Ranbaxy Laboratories' anti-malaria drug SynriamTM that treats malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax parasite.

Ranbaxy said in a statement that the Central Drug Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) of India approved its application to manufacture and market SynriamTM in the country for the treatment of malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax parasite in adults.

Announcing the achievement, Ranbaxy Chief Executive & Managing Director Arun Sawhney said, "Phase III clinical trials for the drug, conducted in India successfully demonstrated the efficacy and tolerability of Synriam as comparable to chloroquine."

In 2012, the pharmaceuticals giant launched Synriam for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Since its availability in India, the drug has treated nearly 1 million patients.

Mr. Sawhney added that the approval by the India drug regulator made SynriamTM one of the few treatments available in the world that can successfully treats both plasmodium vivax and plasmodium falciparum malaria.

The Gurgaon-based company is now working to market SynriamTM drug in African, Asian and South American countries where malaria is widespread.