Image via Wikipedia FDA staff back safety, efficacy of ceftaroline* Advisory panel to review drug on Tuesday
* Forest shares up 5.4 pct in afternoon
* Nearly $361 million in ceftaroline sales seen in 2014 (Revises first sentence, adds analyst comment, updates shares)
By Lisa Richwine
WASHINGTON, Sept 2 (Reuters) - A Forest Laboratories Inc (FRX.N) antibiotic appears effective with risks similar to current options, U.S. drug reviewers said in an analysis that raised hopes for the medicine's approval.
Shares of Forest, which needs new medicines to offset looming patent expirations on its major drugs, were up $1.49 or 5.4 percent at $29.14 on the New York Stock Exchange after the Food and Drug Administration released its preliminary review on Thursday.
Analysts expect nearly $361 million in sales in 2014 for the potential new antibiotic called ceftaroline, according to Thomson Reuters forecasts.
