[Pharm-policy] Generic Claritin lawsuit

[Mike Palmedo]

Impax says sued by Schering-Plough over Claritin 

NEW YORK, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Impax Laboratories Inc [IPXL], a generic
drug maker, on Wednesday said it had been sued by Schering-Plough Corp
[SGP] for alleged patent infringement over Schering's blockbuster
allergy drug, Claritin. 

Impax said the suit was relahted to its November filing to the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration for a new drug application for a generic version
of Claritin, which had sales of about $400 million in the 12 months
ended Sept. 30. 

"While we believe the Schering lawsuit is without merit, we are not
surprised it was filed," Impax's Co-Chief Executive Barry Edwards said
in a statement. 

"The filing of patent-infringement lawsuits...is a routine means by
which branded pharmaceutical manufacturers attempt to expand marketing
exclusivity of a product, while maintaining high prices," he said. 

Impax shares closed off 1/4 at $6 in Tuesday trading on the Nasdaq,
below their 52-week high of $8-9/16 and above a yearly low of $3-1/2.
Schering-Plough shares finished up 5/8 at $53-5/16 in New York Stock
Exchange trading. 

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