Roche and Glenmark settle cancer drug patent row

Roche has settled its patent litigation dispute with India-based Glenmark Pharmaceuticals centring on cancer drug Tarceva (erlotinib).

Both companies have announced they have agreed a deal to cease litigation centring on the drug and that Roche’s intellectual property rights for the drug will be recognised.

The drug is developed by Roche outside the US and Japan.

In a joint statement, the companies said: “Glenmark and Roche confirm that they have reached an agreement regarding ongoing patent disputes relating to the anti-cancer medicine erlotinib hydrochloride.

“As part of the agreement, the companies have ceased all relevant patent litigation on this product and Glenmark has acknowledged the patent rights of Roche,” the statement added.

Further details of the settlement have not been revealed.

Roche was granted an Indian patent for Tarceva in February 2007 and has previously been involved in another patent dispute centring on the drug against Cipla.

In November last year, Roche defended its patent in the Delhi High Court, which ruled that Cipla’s generic version infringed Roche’s patent.