BMS and Dr Reddy’s settle Revlimid suit with generics licence

Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) and Celgene have settled their patent litigation with Dr Reddy’s over a generic version of cancer drug Revlimid (lenalidomide).

Under the terms of the deal, Celgene will grant Dr Reddy’s a licence to sell a limited amount of generic lenalidomide in the US after March 2022, with an unlimited licence to follow no sooner than January 2026.

Other details of the settlement, including the volume of lenalidomide Dr Reddy’s will be permitted to sell from 2022 until 2026, were not disclosed.

The parties have now asked the US District Court for the District of New Jersey to dismiss their pending patent litigation.

“We are pleased with the settlement agreement, and look forward to bringing a generic version of lenalidomide to market soon subject to regulatory approval for the benefit of patients,” said Marc Kikuchi, Dr Reddy’s North America CEO.

BMS-owned Celgene sued Dr Reddy’s for patent infringement in 2018, as the Indian company pressed ahead with plans to launch a generic version of Revlimid.

Revlimid is used to treat multiple myeloma (MM) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), cancers which affect blood cells.

BMS has sought to expand its oncology portfolio in recent years, most notably with the $74 billion acquisition of Celgene in January 2019.

Last month, the company also purchased Forbius,a protein engineering company focused on cancer treatments.

Elsewhere, Dr Reddy’s has won US Food and Drug Administration approval for a generic version of Amarin’s heart drug Vascepa.

But Amarin has warned Dr Reddy’s that it is challenging a patent victory which cleared the way for the generic maker to launch the product.

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