Barr and Galen resolve outstanding patent challenges
US-based Barr Pharmaceuticals' subsidiary Barr Laboratories and Galen Holdings have agreed to settle the pending patent litigation between the two companies regarding Galen's Estrostep oral contraceptive and femhrt hormone therapy products.
US-based Barr Pharmaceuticals' subsidiary Barr Laboratories and Galen Holdings have agreed to settle the pending patent litigation between the two companies regarding Galen's Estrostep oral contraceptive and femhrt hormone therapy products.
Under the terms of the agreement, Galen granted Barr a non-exclusive license to launch a generic version of Estrostep in October 2007, six months prior to the expiration of the patent on Estrostep. Galen also granted Barr a non-exclusive licence to launch a generic version of femhrt in November 2009, six months prior to the expiration of the patent on femhrt.
In a separate agreement, Galen granted Barr an exclusive royalty-bearing licence to develop certain oral contraceptives under a patent owned by Galen.
'This agreement allows both parties to resolve pending patent litigation in a way that will ensure Barr can bring alternative femhrt and Estrostep products to market prior to patent expiration, which will benefit our female healthcare products consumers,' said Bruce L. Downey, Barr's chairman and ceo.