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| Pain gone |
Mumbai, Oct. 10: Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (DRL) and GlaxoSmithkline (GSK) have settled a patent litigation relating to the Hyderabad-based company’s plan to launch a generic version of GSK’s Imitrex.
Imitrex is used to treat migraine. It posted sales of $890 million for the 12-month period ended June 2006. Dr Reddy’s today announced that it has settled patent litigation with GlaxoSmithkline relating to sumatriptan succinate tablets — the generic version of GSK’s Imitrex.
Dr Reddy’s added that under the terms of the settlement, which is subject to government review, it may exclusively distribute an authorised generic version of sumatriptan succinate tablets (in the 25 mg, 50 mg and 100 mg strengths) in the United States.
The expected launch date will be late in the fourth quarter of calendar year 2008. This will be ahead of the expiration of the patent on this drug in February 2009.
However, Dr Reddy’s did not disclose additional terms of the settlement agreement.
The understanding of Dr Reddy’s with GSK is an example of a growing trend in the pharmaceutical industry, wherein large companies enter into authorised generic deals with players ahead of a drug’s patent expiry. Under such deals, a generic version of the innovator’s drug is either made by the company itself or made under a licence granted to its generic partner. This authorised generic is later marketed and sold at prices that are less than the original drug.
Earlier this year, Dr Reddy’s entered into a similar understanding with Merck. In June, Dr Reddy’s launched the authorised generic version of Merck’s Proscar tablets 5mg (finasteride). It also launched the authorised generic version of Merck’s Zocor tablets (simvastatin) 5mg, 10mg, 20mg, 40mg and 80mg in the same month. Proscar is used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Though Dr Reddy’s officials did not divulge further details on the understanding with GSK, sources close to the company said it expects a good market share after launching the authorised generic version of Imitrex. They also said there was no monetary agreement between both the companies.
