Novartis reportedly is suing Cipla claiming the India-based firm infringed its patents on Onbrez. The aerosol-delivered drug has been approved for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Cipla recently began marketing a version of the product in India at a significantly reduced price.
In October, Cipla asked India's department of industrial policy and promotion to revoke Novartis' five patents related to the product citing the need for public health access and claiming that “Novartis' product is over 400 per cent more expensive than Cipla's product.”
Cipla, which says it markets more than 2,000 products in 65 therapeutic categories and with over 40 dosage forms, declined to make any statement on the lawsuit.