Patent Round-Up: Sanofi Settles Eloxatin Suits; Lilly Continues Gemzar Fight
Executive Summary
Sanofi-Aventis reduces Eloxatin competition: Sanofi-Aventis settled Eloxatin (oxaliplatin) patent infringement suits against Teva, Sandoz and Fresenius Kabi. Under the terms of the settlement the companies will stop selling their generic versions of the colon cancer drug on June 30 and resume marketing under a license on Aug. 9, 2012. The other terms of the settlement are confidential. Eloxatin's compound patent has expired but other patents cover the drug through 2016. As a result of generic competition, Sanofi's U.S. sales of Eloxatin fell from $1.4 billion in 2008 to $930 million in 2009. Hospira, Sun and Sun's U.S. subsidiary Caraco also market generic versions of Eloxatin. Sanofi has pending suits against MN Pharmaceuticals, Mayne Pharma and Actavis
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Acorda's Ampyra sales best Wall Street expectations: The firm reported $29.7 million worth of Ampyra has shipped to its network of specialty pharmacies, which is how Acorda books sales, during its first full quarter of sales. FDA approved Ampyra (dalfampridine) in January to improve walking ability in multiple sclerosis patients, and Acorda launched it in March. In its second-quarter earnings call, Acorda said 4,200 doctors have now prescribed the drug. Ampyra's strength helped Acorda beat analyst estimates handily, posting a loss of 18 cents rather than the expected 46 cents. The firm's sales totaled $43.4 million, which also included $13.7 million in gross sales of anti-spasticity drug Zanaflex. The company is looking to in-license a development-stage neurology drug by the end of 2010. A Phase I trial for a remyelination agent, expected to begin this summer, has been delayed due to a vial-filling issue