Allegan, Forest Laboratories and Ironwood Pharmaceuticals accused Sandoz of patent infringement in a lawsuit to prevent Sandoz from bringing a generic version of Linzess to market, Delaware Law Weekly reports.
Here's what you should know:
1. The drug companies are alleging Sandoz infringed on up to 28 claims concerning Linzess' "patent 371."
2. The companies filed the suit in a U.S. District Court in Delaware, following Sandoz's recent amendment to its new drug application calling the alleged infringements invalid and unenforceable.
3. Allergan, Forest and Ironwood are seeking to delay the production and sale of Sandoz's generic until at least 2033, when the patent will expire. The companies also want monetary relief.
4. This is not the first time Allergan, Forest and Ironwood have attempted to stop generic production of Linzess. In 2016, the companies sued several pharmaceutical manufacturers, Sandoz included, for infringing on up to 70 claims concerning nine of the drug's patents.
5. The case is currently pending.