Orexo announces that the United States District Court for the District of Delaware ruled in Orexo’s favor in one of the patent infringement litigations against Actavis Elizabeth LLC regarding Zubsolv in the US.
Orexo commenced this patent infringement litigation in June 2014 in response to Actavis’s Abbreviated New Drug Application seeking approval to market and sell generic versions of Orexo’s patented Zubsolv 1.4/0.36 mg and 5.7/1.4 mg buprenorphine/naloxone products. The Orexo patents in the litigation were US Patent No. 8,454,996 (expiring in September 2019) and US Patent No. 8,940,330 (expiring in September 2032).
The Court held that Orexo’s ‘996 US patent is valid and infringed by Actavis’s generic Zubsolv 1.4/0.36 mg and 5.7/1.4 mg buprenorphine/naloxone products. The Court also held that Orexo’s ‘330 US patent is invalid. The decision prevents Actavis from commercializing their products in the US before September 24, 2019. However, and importantly, Actavis generic Zubsolv entry on the US market can be postponed until late 2032 if the decision regarding validity of the ‘330 patent is reversed on appeal, or if a favorable decision is reached in the separate litigation involving Orexo’s US Patent No. 9,259,421. Also, another Zubsolv patent, US Patent No. 9,439,900, expiring in September 2032, was recently issued.
Orexo has throughout the patent litigation process maintained a strong confidence in the strength of our intellectual property. This first decision by the court enables Orexo to continue to execute on our strategy for Zubsolv, and making this product the preferred treatment for more patients. Orexo will continue to vigorously defend Zubsolv in the other on-going litigation processes against Actavis and will consider whether to appeal the portion of the decision relating to the validity of the ‘330 patent.
“With the validation and proven infringement of the ‘996 patent we will be able to continue our current strategy and leverage the opportunities arising from patients gaining expanded access to treatment in the US until at least late 2019. While I am disappointed with portions of the court’s decision not to confirm the validity of the ‘330 patent, I maintain confidence in the strength of our new ‘421 and ‘900 patents and we are reviewing the possibilities to reverse the ‘330 decision through appeal with our lawyers. A positive outcome in the litigation of the new patents will sustain the exclusivity of Zubsolv until 2032.” says Nikolaj Sørensen, CEO and President of Orexo AB.
The other litigations regarding infringement by Actavis on Orexo’s IP for Zubsolv continues.
