Teva will probably sue Natco Pharma for patent violation.
The first threat to Copaxone, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.’s (Nasdaq: TEVA; TASE: TEVA) treatment for multiple sclerosis has emerged. India’s Natco Pharma Ltd. (BSE:NATCO) today announced that it has strengthened its presence in the neurology segment with the launch of Glatiramer Acetate, a generic version of Copaxone.
The launch is not expected to have a material affect on Copaxone sales, since only 50,000 of the 2.5 million patients taking the drug worldwide are in India. Teva will probably sue Natco for patent violation. Teva’s Copaxone patent has already expired, but other patents protect the drug through 2014 in the US and through 2015 in other countries.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on May 17, 2007
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