[Ip-health] Celgene, Novartis File Suit to Block Generic Ritalin

[Joana Ramos]

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Celgene, Novartis File Suit to Block Generic Ritalin
7 March 2007
Generic Line ( via factiva.com)
[1]
Vol. 24, No. 5
Copyright(c) 2007 Washington Business Information, Inc.

Ritalin manufacturer Celgene, and its distributor, Novartis, could experience
major losses in revenue if they lose patent litigation in federal court to
block a generic version of their attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD) treatment, according to Celgene.

"If we are unsuccessful in defending our patents by a court of final decision,
Novartis' sales of Ritalin LA could be significantly reduced in the U.S. by
entrance of a generic -- product," Celgene said.

According to a regulatory filing, Celgene and Novartis sued Abrika
Pharmaceuticals for patent infringement in two separate complaints filed in
the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey and in the U.S.
District Court for the District of Delaware. The legal action was in response
to an abbreviated new drug application with a Paragraph IV certification
submitted by Abrika to market generic methylphenidate hydrochloride, the
active ingredient in Ritalin.

Abrika is seeking a declaratory judgment from the Delaware court on claims
that its generic product does not infringe on either of the '284 patents held
by Novartis. Abrika has asked the district court in New Jersey to dismiss the
case.

Novartis holds five patents covering methyl- phenidate hydrochloride tablets.
-- Robert Mitchell

--
Joana Ramos, MSW
Cancer Resources & Advocacy
7303 23rd Ave. NE
Seattle, WA  98115
206-229-2420
http://ramoslink.info/[2]

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