Actavis and Teva sued over narcotic addiction generic
Speciality pharmaceutical company Orexo has filed a complaint against Actavis and its parent company Teva for infringing patents protecting Orexo’s Suboxone (buprenorphine and naloxone) and Subutex (buprenorphine).
Both of the drugs are used to treat narcotic addiction.
The case, which was filed yesterday, February 28 at the US District Court for the District of Delaware, centres on US patent number 8,454,996.
According to Orexo, Actavis and Teva have infringed the patent by proposing to sell a generic version of Suboxone and Subutex.
Actavis had knowledge of the ‘996 patent as early as May 2014, said the claim, when it sent Orexo an Abbreviated New Drug Application notice letter regarding its proposed generic drug Zubsolv (buprenorphine and naloxone).
In November 2016, Actavis unsuccessfully challenged the validity of the patent involved, as the Delaware court held that the ‘996 patent claims were valid.
Actavis did not appeal against the district court’s decision.
Orexo has now asked the court for a judgment that Actavis and Teva have infringed the ‘996 patent.
The company has also asked for a permanent injunction restraining Actavis from selling the generic products, as well as compensation.