Merck settles Zetia patent suit
Merck & Co has settled its patent litigation against generic drug firm Glenmark Pharmaceuticals over Merck's cholesterol lowering drug Zetia (ezetimibe).
The case was set to go to trial on 12 May, after Glenmark sought US Food and Drug Administration approval to market a generic version of ezetimibe, which is still under patent protection until April 2017.
Under terms of the settlement between Glenmark and Merck, Glenmark will be able to sell ezetimibe from December 2016.
Ezetimibe was launched in the US in 2002 and is one of Merck's biggest sellers. Glenmark received FDA approval for its own version of ezetimibe in April and subsequently licensed the generic to Par, which will market and distribute the drug and share profits.
The settlement is subject to review by the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice, as well as the Attorney General for the state of New Jersey.
