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3 January 2017Americas

Sanofi targets two pharma companies in patent suits

Sanofi, and its subsidiary Genzyme, has targeted two pharmaceutical companies in patent lawsuits related to its drug Aubagio (teriflunomide).

Aubagio is used to treat patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis.

In two suits filed at the US District Court for the District of Delaware on December 30, Sanofi claimed Torrent Pharma and Glenmark Pharmaceuticals have infringed two of its patents, US numbers 6,794,410 and 9,186,346.

Both claims stemmed from Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDAs) filed by the defendants for approval to market a generic version of Aubagio.

Sanofi said it had received letters from Torrent and Glenmark in November last year containing notice of the ANDAs.

The letters claimed that Sanofi’s patents were invalid, unenforceable, and/or will not be infringed by the manufacture and sale of the proposed teriflunomide ANDA products.

Sanofi is seeking a judgment providing that the effective date of any Food and Drug Administration approval of the ANDAs should be no earlier than February 4, 2034, the expiration date of the ‘346 patent.

It is also seeking preliminary and permanent injunctive relief, triple damages, attorneys’ fees, and costs and expenses.