Court orders Cipla to stop sale of generic of Novartis' respiratory drug

The DelhiHigh Court has asked Cipla to stop selling the generic version of respiratory drug Onbrez, patent for which is owned by Swiss multinational Novartis. The court has, however, allowed Cipla to sell the remaining stock of the drug.
 
In December last year,Novartis moved the high court seeking to restrain Cipla from selling the generic version of Onbrez.
 
In its defence,Cipla had argued said there was not sufficient amount of the drug available in the market. However, the court told Cipla to apply for a compulsory licence on the drug if the company feels the market does not have adequate supply.
 
Novartis has been selling the medicine in India as an inhalation powder and inhaler under the trademark name of ‘Onbrez’ through its licencee Lupin since 2010.
 
It is still not clear whether Cipla will challenge the Delhi HC order.
 
FOR COMPLETE REPORT READ: Delhi HC asks Cipla to stop sale of respiratory drug