• Most Popular
  • Most Shared

UPDATE 1-Cephalon, Barr settle patent infringement suit

Thu Nov 12, 2009 6:06pm EST

Stocks

   

* Cephalon, Barr end Fentora patent dispute

Stocks  |  Healthcare

* Agreement gives Barr right to enter market in 2018

* Deal does not resolve litigation with Watson

(Updates with details)

NEW YORK, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Cephalon Inc (CEPH.O) said on Thursday it has come to an agreement to settle its patent infringement dispute with Barr Pharmaceuticals over the pain drug Fentora.

Under the agreement, Cephalon will grant Barr a non- exclusive, royalty-free right to market and sell a generic version of Fentora in the United States. The license will become effective in October 2018.

If another generic version of Fentora enters the United States market before that date, Barr will be allowed to enter the market at the same time, assuming no other company has won a period of marketing exclusivity.

Cephalon had claimed Barr infringed Fentora patents that do not expire until 2019. Under the settlement Barr will not attempt to enter the market earlier than October 2018.

Cephalon is still in litigation with generic drugmaker Watson Pharmacetuicals Inc (WPI.N) over Fentora.

Barr is owned by the generic drugmaker Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (TEVA.TA) of Israel. (Reporting by Toni Clarke; editing by Andre Grenon)



More from Reuters

Photo

Democrats strike deal on health bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Democrats said they reached agreement on an abortion compromise with a crucial holdout, Senator Ben Nelson, on Saturday in a deal that could clear the way for passage of a sweeping healthcare overhaul.

A woman shops at a Sam's Club store, a division of Wal-Mart Stores, in Bentonville, Arkansas June 4, 2009. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi

The food-stamp economy

On the last day of every month, shoppers at Walmart load their carts with food and household items and wait for the midnight hour. Is this the new normal in America?  Full Article 

Two men shake hands in a file photo.    REUTERS/File

Let's make a deal

The battered M&A sector will make a tepid recovery in the coming year and three hot sectors will lead the way, according to a Thomson Reuters analysis.  Full Article