Jan. 5: Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (DRL) is likely to contest a patent infringement case filed against it by global pharma giant Pfizer over its cholesterol lowering drug atorvastatin.
Dr Reddy’s had filed an application with the US Food and Drug Administ-ration seeking approval to market an 80 mg dosage strength of atorvastatin calcium. However, Pfizer claims that the Hyderabad-based pharma firm’s plans would infringe upon its patent.
DRL, however, appears to be unfazed by the suit and claims that it had already anticipated the development. “We had anticipated that Pfizer would be filing suit on our 80 mg ANDA filing of Atorvastatin. If you recall Dr Reddy’s had previously submitted a filing for all other strengths of Atorvastatin for which Pfizer has already filed suit against Dr Reddy’s,” a DRL spokesperson said.
According to company insiders, it is logical for DRL to contest the Pfizer’s suit as it has done in other cases. Pfizer and DRL are already involved in patent infringement cases over 10mg, 20mg and 40mg strengths of atorvastatin calcium.