Sun Pharma settles patent litigation in US

Following settlement, US-based Medicines Co will allow a Sun Pharma arm to sell a generic bivalirudin product in US on June 30, 2019

The Mumbai-based Sun Pharma has settled its litigation with US-based Medicines Co. (MDCO) relating to MDCO's US patents covering Angiomax (bivalirudin). The patents will expire on July 27, 2028.

As a result of the settlement, MDCO will permit a Sun Pharma subsidiary to market a generic bivalirudin product in the United States on June 30, 2019, or earlier in certain limited circumstances. This settlement validates MDCO's patents while allowing a Sun Pharma subsidiary to enter the market with its generic product, said a statement from MDCO.

Glenn Sblendorio, President and Chief Financial Officer of The Medicines Company, stated, "This settlement further confirms the strength of our Angiomax patents and, we believe, is a common sense approach to resolving this litigation."

In October 2011, Sun Pharma had filed a paragraph IV ANDA with the USFDA for approval to market a generic version of Angiomax. In November 2011, MDCO filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Sun. The complaint, filed in the US District Court for the District of New Jersey, alleged infringement of US patent covering Angiomax.

On Wednesday, shares of Sun Pharma were closed at Rs 1078.55, up by 5.51% on BSE.