AMRI files lawsuits against Dr Reddys Laboratories and Sandoz
Claiming infringement of a patent used in sanofi-aventis\' Allegra and Allegra D allergy drugs
US-based drug discovery company Albany Molecular Research (AMRI) has filed two new patent infringement lawsuits in the US District Court in New Jersey against Dr Reddys Laboratories and Sandoz, claiming infringement of a patent used in sanofi-aventis' Allegra and Allegra D allergy drugs.
Both Dr Reddys and Sandoz are believed to have sought or have obtained approval from the US Food and Drug Administration to market a generic version of fexofenadine, the active ingredient in Allegra products.
"We believe that this patent infringement filing strengthens our litigation strategy on Allegra, Allegra D-12 and Allegra D-24 against these generic drug companies in the US," said AMRI chief executive Thomas D'Ambra. "AMRI remains committed vigorously to protecting and enforcing its intellectual property."
In November 2008, AMRI announced a settlement of two US patent infringement lawsuits. The agreements allowed sanofi-aventis to sublicense two Allegra patents to Teva Pharmaceuticals and Barr Laboratories in the US.
AMRI now receives royalties on the sale of generic products containing fexofenadine hydrochloride and fexofenadine hydrochloride and pseudoephedrine hydrochloride by Teva and Barr through to 2015.