Sandoz in Warner Chilcott-launched legal action

Sandoz has been accused of copyright infringement by Warner Chilcott.

The lawsuit against the company pertains to Warner Chilcott’s Mayne subsidiary, which said it had breached the patent – number 6,958,161 – of oral antibiotic Doryx.

Under a license agreement, the drug is sold in 150, 100 and 75 mg strengths.

It was launched following Sandoz’s application to manufacture and market generic versions of the product.

Warner Chilcott said in a press release it intended to “vigorously defend” the patent and pursue its legal rights.

The lawsuit against the company follows similar lawsuits against Mutual, Mylan and Impax, last year.

Last year, Sandoz said its filgrastim medicine had received a positive opinion from Europe’s Committee on Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP).

The product – used as a treatment for neutropenia – is often adopted in chemotherapy and bone marrow transplants.

Speaking at the time, Sandoz chief executive officer Andreas Rummelt said the endorsement by the CHMP was an “important step”.