Israeli drug maker sued
צילום: סי די בנק
Japanese firm sues Teva
Exclusive: Pharmaceuticals giant Teva sued by Japanese firm Eisai over alleged patent violation of its Alzheimer drug Aricept
Japan's fourth largest pharmaceuticals company Eisai has announced in Tokyo on Thursday it has filed a lawsuit for patent violation against Teva, on account of the Israeli giant's intent to manufacture and sell a generic drug based on Eisai's Aricept to treat Alzheimer.
Eisai has filed the suit at the New Jersey district court in the United States.
Teva did not respond to the lawsuit.
In October, Teva informed the Japanese firm it has submitted an appeal to the American authorities for an approval to produce and market the generic version of Aricept.
Eisai, which is sold in 76 countries across the world, generated USD 1.35 billion in 2005. The drug, considered to be Eisai's flagship product, is expected to generate USD 2.28 billion in revenues in the coming year.
Eisai claimed that the patent on the drug is due to expire in 2010, and pledged to firmly protect the patent.
