Shire Pharmaceuticals settles legal generic dispute

Shire Pharmaceuticals is to settle a legal dispute over generic versions of the firm’s attention deficit hyperactivity disorder drug Adderall XR (mixed amphetamine salts).

The US litigation had involved the possible patent infringement by the firm Impax Laboratories, its Abbreviated New Drug Application and attempt to market generic versions of Adderall XR.

Under the agreement Impax will be permitted to market generic versions of the drug in the US in 2010 and will pay Shire a royalty from those sales.

This gives Shire five years to launch its new treatment NRP104 and switch Adderall XR patients to it.

Shire has also agreed to pay Impax to promote the epilepsy treatment Carbatrol in the US.

Shire chief executive Matthew Emmens said: “We are very pleased to have resolved the lawsuits against Impax.

“The settlement terms are consistent with our beliefs that Shire’s patents are valid and enforceable. We look forward to working together with Impax to resume promotion and growth of Carbatrol.”

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