Cadila settles litigation with Celgene over Revlimid

Cadila settles litigation with Celgene over patents for the anti-cancer drug Revlimid

Cadila Healthcare and its subsidiary Zydus Pharmaceuticals Inc. have reached a settlement with Celgene Corporation on 24 March 2021. This settlement was done over the patents for the anti–cancer drug Revlimid.

Per this agreement, both parties will file consent judgments with the US district court for New Jersey. This will prohibit Zydus Cadila from marketing the generic version of the drug before the patent expires, except as provided for in the settlement. ^[3]

About Revlimid

Revlimid is used for the treatment of multiple myeloma and myelodysplastic syndrome. Its patent expires in March 2022. US–based firm Celgene Corporation is a wholly–owned subsidiary of Bristol Meyers Squibb ( BMS ). In 2020, BMS had garnered over $ 12 billion in sales from Revlimid, making it the largest drug in its sales in 2020.

Cadila is apparently the fifth company to settle litigation with Celgene over the patent. The other companies that were previously involved were Cipla, Natco Pharma, and Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories. A few pharma firms are still locked in legal battles with this US–based firm. These include Aurobindo Pharma, Hetero Drugs, Mylan, Sun Pharma, and Lupin.

Cipla had resolved its case with Celgene in December 2020. Based on the agreement, Cipla would get a license to manufacture and sell a certain volume of the generic version in the US after March 2022. Apart from this, until 31 January 2026, the volume of generic Revlimid sold by Cipla could not exceed the agreed–upon percentages. After this period, Cipla can manufacture and sell an unlimited quantity of the drug.