Sucampo settles Amitiza patent case
US biopharmaceutical company Sucampo has resolved patent litigation related to, and agreed a licensing deal for, its Amitiza (lubiprostone) capsules, used to treat constipation.
The deal, announced yesterday (October 9), will see Sucampo settle its dispute with Par Pharmaceutical and its subsidiary Anchen Pharmaceuticals.
Under the agreement, Sucampo will grant Par a non-exclusive licence to market a generic version of lubiprostone in 8 mcg and 24 mcg soft gelatin capsules in the US.
The deal, which will run from January 2021 until the last of the Sucampo patents has expired, in 2027, will see Par and Sucampo split the profits of the licensed products sold.
Additional details of the agreement have been kept under wraps.
Sucampo sued Par and Anchen in February last year at the US District Court for the District of Delaware, following the companies’ abbreviated new drug application that sought permission to develop a generic version of Amitiza.
Peter Greenleaf, chief executive of Sucampo, said the settlement was an important step for his company.
"This is not only beneficial to our company and shareholders, it is important to prescribing physicians and their patients who depend on Amitiza for treatment," he added.
