By Christopher P. Singer --
Pfizer and Teva on November 21, 2006 announced that the
companies reached an agreement that resolves litigation surrounding the drugs
idarubicin and azithromycin, as well as issues relating to epirubicin. The resolution includes full releases between
the parties and directs a payment as large as $70 million from Teva to
Pfizer. The dispute between subsidiary
companies Pharmacia (Pfizer) and Sicor (Teva) centered on Sicor’s sale of a
generic form of the injectible anti-cancer drug idarubicin HCl (Pharmacia's
IDAMYCIN PFS). Pfizer also filed suit
against Teva for its sale of a generic form of the antibiotic azithromycin
(Pfizer’s Zithromax). Under terms of the
agreement Teva will continue its sale of generic idarubicin and azithromycin,
and has a 2007 option to sell a generic version of epirubicin (Pfizer's ELLENCE), which is used in adjuvant therapy in patients that show evidence of
axillary node tumor
involvement following resection of primary breast
cancer. Pfizer’s patent coverage of
epirubicin is set to expire in August 2007.
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