Mucinex patent litigation case gone in favor of Watson

The US District Court for the Southern District of Florida has ruled that Watson Pharmaceuticals' generic versions of Mucinex, Mucinex D and Mucinex DM (Guaifenesin, Dextromethorphan HBr/ Guaifenesin, and seudoephedrine/Guaifenesin) Extended-Release drugs do not infringe US Patent No 6,372,252.

The Mucinex products are indicated to loosen mucus and thin bronchial secretions to clear the bronchial passageways of troublesome mucus and make coughs more productive.
In 2009, Reckitt Benckiser filed a suit against Watson for patent infringement related to the generic versions of Mucinex.

AstraZeneca sues Watson for Crestor patent challenge

Watson has filed ANDA with paragraph IV certification for generic version of Crestor(TM) (Rosuvastatin Cacium) and in response of that, AStraZeneca has filed law suit against watson in U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware seeking to block the company from selling a generic product prior to the patent expiration set for March 30, 2013.
(Source: www.forbes.com)

One more P IV filer against INTUNIV(TM) of Shire

INTUNIV(TM) is product of Shire plc and contains 1 mg, 2 mg, 3 mg, and 4 mg guanfacine hydrochloride extended release tablets. This product has 3 patents listed in orange book; US5854290 ("the '290 patent") titled Use of Guanfacine in the Treatment of Behavioral Disorders; US6287599 ("the '599 patent") and US6811794 ("the '794 patent") both titled Sustained Release Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms with Minimized pH Dependent Dissolution Profiles. The three patents expire in 2015, 2020 and 2022, respectfully.

Previously Teva, Actavis and Anchen has already filed ANDA with paragraph IV certification and Shire has subsequently initiated litigation and all the cases are in discovery phase.

Recently Watson Labs. has also filed ANDA for generic version of INTUNIV(TM) with paragraph IV certification but only for 4 mg strentgh.

INTUNIV(TM) has NP (New Product) exclusivity till 02-September-2012, so no any ANDA will get approval till this date.

Ranbaxy caught for false patent marking

One of the largest Indian pharmaceutical firm, Ranbaxy could get damaged by law suit for maintaining an expired patent `652 on pack insert of product Exelderm (Sulconazole nitrate). The patent `652 had already expired in October 1996. Ranbaxy could be charged for false patent marking.

This is the second case in this month after the case of Watson lab where the company has listed expired patents for its Androderm testosterone deficiency treatment.