Pfizer signs generics deal with Teva

Pfizer has signed an agreement with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries concerning the generic drugs idarubicin, azithromycin and epirubicin and their sale.

Under the terms of the agreement, all outstanding patent litigation previously filed by Pfizer subsidiary Pharmacia against Teva subsidiary Sicor regarding these pharmaceuticals has been both resolved and dismissed.

Each company granted has been granted a full release, with the Israeli company permitted to market the generic anti-cancer treatment idarubicin and antibiotic azithromycin.

“Teva has agreed to make a payment of up to $70 million [36.7 million pounds] to Pfizer, which includes an option in 2007 for Teva to sell its own generic version of epirubicin prior to the August 2007 patent expiry,” Teva reported.

In February, Pfizer reported that it had filed a Citizen Petition with the Food and Drug Authority (FDA), claiming that azithromycin sold by Teva seemed to be misbranded. It additionally brought patent infringement litigation against the company, claiming that the marketing of these drugs were a violation of its patent for its own Zithromax antibiotic.

The Citizen Petition requested a recall of the Teva drugs, in addition to those from Sandoz, to correct misbranding, in addition to appealing to the FDA to review those companies’ product approval applications.