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Photo: Courtesy of Celgene (https://www.celgene.com/media-library/celgene-logo-with-tagline-no-background/)
5 January 2016Americas

Celgene and Natco settle Revlimid dispute

Biopharmaceutical company Celgene and India-based rival Natco Pharma have settled a lawsuit centring on the alleged infringement of a number patents covering the Revlimid (lenalidomide) drug.

From 2022, Celgene will allow Natco to sell a certain volume of generic versions of the Revlimid product. The limitation will be totally relaxed in 2026, a year before the patents at the centre of the lawsuit are due to expire.

Revlimid is used to treat myeloma, a cancer found in the plasma cells of a human body.

Both parties agreed to end litigation at the US District Court for the District of New Jersey. The agreement was announced December 22.

Bob Hugin, chief executive of Celgene, said: “We believe strongly in our patent estate for Revlimid, and that this settlement appropriately recognises the strength of our patents.

“This settlement provides clarity around the future of Revlimid, and we will continue to focus on developing our many important pipeline asserts,” he added.