Pfizer settles with Teva on cancer drug and antibiotic patents
Pfizer has resolved two lawsuits alleging patent infringement of its cancer medication, Idamycin, and antibiotic, Zithromax with Israel-based generic drug manufacturer Teva.
Pfizer has resolved two lawsuits alleging patent infringement of its cancer medication, Idamycin, and antibiotic, Zithromax with Israel-based generic drug manufacturer Teva.
Teva will pay up to US$70m to Pfizer in a deal that includes an option in 2007 for Teva to sell its own generic version of epirubicin, another cancer medication, prior to the August 2007 patent expiry. In addition, Teva will not contest the validity of the patents.
The agreement will end litigation by Pfizer against Teva and Sicor, a company owned by Teva, over Sicor's sales of idarubicin (the active ingredient in Idamycin) and Teva's sale of azithromycin (the active ingredient in Zithromax).
Under the agreement Sicor will be able to continue to market idarubicin, which it launched prior to patent expiry in September 2002, and Teva can continue to sell its generic version of Zithromax.