Generic drugmaker Mylan Inc. said Thursday that the Food and Drug Administration tentatively approved several pill sizes of the company's generic version of cholesterol fighter Lipitor, the world's top-selling drug.

Lipitor had peak annual sales of $13 billion for Pfizer Inc., the world's largest drugmaker. It lost patent protection last year, which exposes the drug to cheaper generic competition.

India's Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. has the sole right to compete with brand-name Lipitor and an authorized generic made by Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc. for the first 180 days after the patent ends.

Other drugmakers are then expected to sell their own versions of generic Lipitor starting in June.

Mylan said the FDA decision covers 10-, 20-, 40- and 80-milligram tablets.

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