Sun Pharma has high stakes in patent war
If Sun Pharmaceutical succeeds in its challenge against Eli Lilly’s patent on cancer drug, it could reap a windfall.
If Sun Pharmaceutical succeeds in its challenge against Eli Lilly’s patent on cancer drug, it could reap a windfall. The domestic pharma company has recently made a Para-IV filing with the US FDA for the US pharma major’s cancer drug Gemzar, claiming that Eli Lilly’s patent was invalid and non-infringed. Subsequently, Eli Lilly filed a lawsuit to prevent Sun from marketing a generic version of Gemzar in the US before expiry of its patent in 2013.
If Sun Pharma manages to prove Eli Lilly’s patent invalid, the domestic pharma major could benefit from a 180-days exclusivity period in a market estimated at over $1 billion. With sales of $1 billion in the first nine months, Gemzar is indeed one of the pharma major’s best-selling drugs. Sun Pharma is among the few Indian players who have challenged patents held by big pharma companies in the US. While the risks and costs involved in patent litigation may be high, the gains can be significant. Last year, Sun Pharma received its first Para-IV approval to launch its generic version of Johnson & Johnson’s painkiller Ultracet. According to analysts, generic Ultracet could generate annual sales of $20-25 million for Sun Pharma.
If Sun Pharma manages to prove Eli Lilly’s patent invalid, the domestic pharma major could benefit from a 180-days exclusivity period in a market estimated at over $1 billion. With sales of $1 billion in the first nine months, Gemzar is indeed one of the pharma major’s best-selling drugs. Sun Pharma is among the few Indian players who have challenged patents held by big pharma companies in the US. While the risks and costs involved in patent litigation may be high, the gains can be significant. Last year, Sun Pharma received its first Para-IV approval to launch its generic version of Johnson & Johnson’s painkiller Ultracet. According to analysts, generic Ultracet could generate annual sales of $20-25 million for Sun Pharma.
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