Eli Lilly targets more than 30 generics in Effient patent case

Eli Lilly has filed suit against more than 30 generic drug makers at the US District Court for the Southern District of Indiana for allegedly infringing three patents related to platelet inhibitor drug Effient (prasugrel).

The accused generics include Actavis, Dr. Reddy’s and Teva.

Effient is used to prevent the formation of blood clots in acute coronary syndrome patients who have undergone an angioplasty.

Eli Lilly is the exclusive licensee of the three patents at suit, which are held by co-plaintiffs Daiichi Sankyo and Ube Industries.

In the complaint, Lilly argued that the two patents ‘703 and ‘325, which cover use of the drug with aspirin, were infringed by all defendants, while Mylan infringed the composition of matter patent (‘726) in addition to the method of use patents.

According to the complaint dated March 12, the generics filed Abbreviated New Drug Applications with the US Food and Drug Administration for approval to make and sell generic Effient tablets before expiry of the three patents.

Effient is Eli Lilly’s tenth-biggest selling drug. Its sales of Effient totalled $508.7 million worldwide in 2013.