Fresenius Kabi settles patent dispute with Sanofi Aventis

Drug firm Fresenius Kabi Oncology, previously known as Dabur Pharma, today said that it had settled the patent litigation with Sanofi Aventis over the cancer drug ‘Eloxatin’.

Under the terms of agreement, Fresenius Kabi Oncology and its subsidiaries would have the licence to market the generic version of the cancer drug in various strengths from August 9, 2012, the company said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange.

Last week, French drug maker Sanofi Aventis had announced that it had settled three patent infringement lawsuits pending in the US courts, related to the generic versions of its patented cancer drug, Eloxatin involving several drug manufacturers including Fresenius.

Last year, Eloxatin, used for the treatment of the advanced stage of cancer, a reported sales of over billion dollars in the US alone.

Singapore-based Fresenius Kabi acquired Delhi-based cancer drug manufacturer Dabur Pharma in 2008 and later renamed it Fresenius Kabi Oncology Ltd.