Pfizer sues Sun Pharma for patent infringement

Pfizer has sued Indian generic company Sun Pharma for allegedly infringing patents centring on Xeljanz (tofacitinib), a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.

In the case, which was reportedly filed by the US big pharma company last month in the Delhi High Court, Pfizer has sought an injunction to stop Sun from developing a generic version of the drug, but no injunction was granted.

Pfizer’s spokesperson in India reportedly told the Economic Times(ET): “We have initiated certain legal interventions and are unable to comment on those further since the matter is sub judice.”

According to ET, an unnamed senior legal expert said: “Access to the drug should be a priority and a delayed launch will prompt Indian companies to seek a legal remedy.”

It was further reported that Pfizer may have made the decision to sue Sun in order to stop the generic company from exporting test batches to the US as part of its preparations for filing information with the US Food and Drug Administration.

The case is scheduled for a hearing in November.

Pfizer has also sued another Indian generic company, Zydus Cadila, for patent infringement concerning the same drug.