Wyeth files to block Teva, Sun forms of Protonix
NEW YORK, June 25 (Reuters) - Wyeth WYE.N on Monday said it has asked a New Jersey federal court for a preliminary injunction to stop Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Inc. (TEVA.TA) and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (SUN.BO) from launching generic forms of its Protonix ulcer drug.
Wyeth said it filed the application on June 22 with the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, asking the court to prevent launch of the generics until a planned court patent battle between it and the two smaller drugmakers is concluded.
Wyeth said its actions against both companies had been consolidated into a single proceeding before the federal court, but no trial date has been set.
Meanwhile, Wyeth said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration could grant final approval to Teva's product on August 2 and to Sun's copycat form of Protonix by Sept. 8.
Wyeth said it believes its allegation that the generics infringe the patent on Protonix will be proven in court, but noted that sales of Protonix would be "significantly" hurt if the generics were introduced.
((Reporting by Ransdell Pierson, editing by Gerald E. McCormick; Reuters Messaging: ransdell.pierson.reuters.com@reuters.net; 646-223-6034; ransdell.pierson@reuters.com)) Keywords: WYETH PROTONIX/GENERICS
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