The country’s largest drug manufacturer, Sun Pharma, on Monday announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary along with its partners, Cipher and Galephar has entered a settlement agreement with Actavis. The settlement dismisses the patent litigation suit relating to Actavis’ abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) for the generic version of Absorica.
Sun Pharma said as part of the settlement agreement Ranbaxy, Cipher and Galephar have entered into a non-exclusive licence agreement with Actavis under which Actavis may sell its generic version of Absorica in the US on December 27, 2020 or earlier under certain circumstances. This is approximately nine months prior to the expiration of the patents in September 2021. “The other terms of the agreement are confidential,” it said in a statement. The agreement is subject to review by the US Federal Trade Commission and the US Department of Justice.
Absorica is used to treat acne. Ranbaxy had in-licensed Absorica from Cipher and had launched the drug in the US market in 2014. Actavis, formerly known as Watson, had challenged the patent and filed for a generic version of Absorica in 2013.
