AstraZeneca settles generic Entocort suit
Anglo-Swedish drug maker AstraZeneca has reached a settlement with Teva Pharmaceuticals over the marketing of a generic copy of AstraZeneca's anti-inflammatory drug Entocort (budesonide).
Under the terms of the agreement, Teva will be able to sell its budesonide in the US from 15 February 2012, subject to regulatory approval "or earlier in certain circumstances". No financial details have been disclosed.
The settlement follows an application with the US Food and Drug Administration Teva filed in 2008 to market generic budesonide. As the first patent on the drug is not due to expire until May 2011, AstraZeneca immediately sued Teva for patent infringement.
As part of the settlement, Teva has conceded that both patents-in-suit are valid and enforceable.
