Natco Pharma has lost a patent litigation against Israel?s Teva Pharmaceutical Industries in the US over multiple sclerosis treatment drug, Copaxone.
Teva had opposed the generic versions of Copaxone and filed cases against pharma firms Momenta Pharmaceuticals and Mylan, besides Natco Pharma.
This decision covers several patents, the last of which expires on September 1, 2015. Following this, Teva will be able to continue with the patent until 2014. The company garnered $3.6 billion from the sale of Copaxone last year.
In a ruling delivered on June, 22 2012, the US District Court for the Southern District of New York has upheld the contention of Teva Pharmaceuticals that Natco Pharma?s ANDA for the generic version of Copaxone infringes all the asserted claims of Teva Pharmaceuticals. The R550-crore Natco, along with its partner Mylan Inc, in June 2008, had filed an ANDA.
