Teva reaches settlement in ProAir patent case

Teva has reached a settlement in its patent battle with two pharmaceutical companies, ending all litigation over its ProAir HFA (albuterol sulfate) inhalation aerosol.

The settlement will provide a license for Perrigo Pharmaceutical Co. and Catalent Pharma Solutions LLC to sell Perrigo's generic version of the product, used for the treatment or prevention of bronchospasm.

Israel-based Teva had filed a lawsuit at the US District Court for the District of Delaware, accusing the two companies of patent infringement after they filed an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA).

The ANDA was directed against four patents: US numbers 7,105,152, 7,566,445, 6,446,627, and 8,132,712.

Teva said Ireland-based Perrigo and US-based Catalent will be licensed to sell “limited units” of Perrigo’s generic version of the product for an initial period beginning Dec 19, 2016 until June 2018, when the limits will no longer apply.

“There are currently no additional challenges to the IP for ProAir HFA and no further litigation pending,” Teva said on Friday, June 20.

“Teva will continue to vigorously defend its IP rights relating to its products,” it added.

Additional terms of the settlement have not been disclosed.

Bronchospasm is a sudden constriction of the muscles in the walls of the bronchioles that can result in breathing difficulties.