[Ip-health] Cipla files post grant opposition against Tykerb/Lapatinib GSK patent

[Judit Rius Sanjuan]

http://www.moneycontrol.com/india/news/business/cipla-files-case-against-gsktykerb-patent/386611

Cipla files case against GSK on Tykerb patent

Cipla has filed a post grant opposition against Tykerb patent of
GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals or GSK on grounds of obviousness and
lack of inventiveness. Tykerb (lapatinib), is a kinase inhibitor
working through multiple pathways (targets) to deprive tumor cells of
signals needed to grow.

This oncology business is going to be very big globally by 2012. It is
estimated that the oncology will be USD 80 billion ahead of any other
therapeutic brand. In the US lapatinib is sold at USD 3,000 per
patient for a month.

Impact on GSK:

This is not very good news for GSK because that product Ttykerb has
been seen as one of the big brands for GSK globally and any amount of
speculation on that brand in India will definitely have repercussion.

Vikas Dandekar of PharmAsiaNews.com said, "GSK had put together an
oncology division to promote this particular brand. If Cipla does make
it and prove that the patent is old and obvious, it will definitely
open a huge revenue source for Cipla."

He informed CNBC-TV18 that GSK had announced the launch of lapatinib
in India, they said that it will be at around 25-30% discount.
However, he believes it will still be a huge brand for GSK in the
coming months

Cipla definitely has its hands full so far as patent litigations are
concerned. It has a case with Roche for Tarceva, Bayer is already
fighting a case on Nexavar or Sorafenib and now Tykerb with GSK.


Judit Rius Sanjuan
Attorney
Knowledge Ecology International / Essential Information
www.keionline.org / www.cptech.org
Phone: +1.202 332 2670, ext 18