FDA Approves First Generic Versions of Levofloxacin Tinker Ready The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday approved applications from 12 companies to manufacture generic versions of levofloxacin ( Levaquin , Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson), a widely used fluoroquinolone antibiotic. The companies, including Teva Pharmaceutical and Sandoz Inc, will start producing generic levofloxacin now that Johnson & Johnson's patent has expired. The drug has been a blockbuster for the company. In the United States, Levaquin had sales of $1.3 billion in 2010 and $422 million in the first quarter of 2011, according to news sources. Levofloxacin is the second common drug in its class to become available in generic form. Another fluoroquinolone, ciprofloxacin ( Cipro , Bayer) is also available generically. The patent for a third drug in the same class, moxifloxacin ( Avelox , Schering Corp, a subsidiary of Merck & Co), expir...