Dr Reddy’s sued for patent infringement

US-based Amarin Pharma has filed a complaint against Dr Reddy’s Laboratories for allegedly infringing 14 patents covering Vascepa (icosapent ethyl).

Vascepa is used to reduce triglycerides in adults with severely high triglycerides, the main constituents of body fat.

The case, which was filed on November 4 in the US District Court for the District of Nevada, arose after Dr Reddy’s filed an Abbreviated New Drug Application with the Food and Drug Administration seeking approval to manufacture and sell a generic version of Amarin’s Vascepa.

Amarin has asked the court for a ruling that Dr Reddy’s has infringed its 14 patents.

The company has also asked the court for a permanent injunction enjoining Dr Reddy’s from bringing the generic drug to market, as well as to be awarded costs and expenses for bringing the case to court.

The 14 patents involved are US numbers 8,293,728; 8,318,715; 8,357,677; 8,367,652; 8,377,920; 8,399,446; 8,415,335; 8,426,399; 8,431,560; 8,440,650; 8,518,929; 8,524,698; 8,546,372; and 8,617,594.