Vectura sues GSK for patent infringement
Pharmaceutical company Vectura has sued GSK for allegedly infringing its patent after claiming that it refused to expand on a licensing agreement.
The complaint was filed at the US District Court for the District of Delaware on Wednesday, July 27.
The patent in question is US number 8,303,991 which covers a method of making particles to use in a pharmaceutical composition.
According to V ectura, GSK declined to expand on a 2010 licensing deal the companies had agreed, prompting it to file the complaint.
The deal, agreed in August 2010, centred on several Vectura-owned patent families that related to formulation technologies relevant to GSK’s Ellipta products, used to treat asthma.
Vectura said although several patents were due to expire this year GSK had the option to extend the term of the deal to cover additional patents but had chosen not to.
In a statement, Vectura said: “While the lawsuit has been filed, Vectura continues to remain open to finding a mutually acceptable solution in order to avoid costs and potential uncertainty over royalties.”
