FDA approves Mylan genital herpes ointment

PITTSBURGH — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug for genital herpes made by Mylan, the drug maker said Wednesday.

Mylan announced the approval of acyclovir ointment in the 5% strength. The drug is a generic version of Valeant International's Zovirax, used to manage initial genital herpes and in limited, non-life-threatening mucocutaneous herpes simplex virus infections in patients with compromised immune systems.

Various versions of the drug had sales of about $230 million in 2012, according to IMS Health. Mylan said it would start shipping the drug immediately.