UCB, a global biopharma company, alongwith others has filed separate cases against as many as 15 drug makers, including India's Ranbaxy, Aurobindo, Zydus, Sun Pharma, Glenmark and Alembic Pharmaceuticals for allegedly infringing its patented drug Vimpat.
According to a petition filed by UCB, Inc, UCB Pharma GMBH, Research Corporation Technologies, Inc and Harris FRC Corporation the patent its drug lacosamide Tablets, 50 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg and 200 mg would expire on March 17, 2022. The patent infringement petition was filed in the US District Court for the district of Delaware.
For the 12 months ending March 31, 2013, Vimpat had US sales of approximately $338 million, according to IMS Health. The drug is approved as an adjunctive therapy to treat partial-onset seizures of people diagnosed with epilepsy aged 17 years and older. According to petitioners, the patent which belonged to RCT, granted the licence to Harris.