Novo Nordisk says sues Sanofi over patent breach

COPENHAGEN, July 17 (Reuters) - Denmark's Novo Nordisk (NOVOb.CO: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), the world's biggest insulin maker, is suing rival Sanofi-Aventis (SASY.PA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) for breach of a U.S. patent on a dose delivery system, a company spokesman said on Tuesday.

"We have filed a case Tuesday last week, but we do not have a trial date yet," Novo Nordisk spokesman Mike Rulis said.

Rulis said the case concerned Novo Nordisk's U.S. patent for the dose management system in its insulin pen, NovoPen 4.

The Danish company claims Sanofi-Aventis uses a similar dose system in its SoloStar insulin pens, in violation of NovoNordisk's U.S. patent.

Rulis declined to comment on whether Novo Nordisk could sue Sanofi in other countries.

"First we will wait for a trial date, but it is quite common that a patent case takes a couple of years," Rulis said.

Sanofi is expected to launch the SoloStar insulin pen in the United States over the next few months.

((Reporting by Mette Kronholm Fraende, Copenhagen newsroom +45 33 96 96 56, mette.fraende@reuters.com)) Keywords: NOVONORDISK SANOFI/

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