AstraZeneca grants Teva generic Crohn's drug license

18th May 2010 07:34

AstraZeneca has signed a deal with Teva Pharmaceuticals USA to settle patent litigation regarding Teva's proposed generic version of Astra's Entocort EC (budesonide) capsules used to treat Crohn's disease.The Anglo-Swedish drug giant has granted Teva a license to enter the US market with its generic version of oral budesonide on 15 February 2012, subject to regulatory approval, or earlier in certain circumstances. Meanwhile, Teva conceded that both patents-in-suit in Teva's US Entocort patent litigation are valid and enforceable and that they would be infringed by the manufacture or sale of Teva's generic version of oral budesonide. Merck, under the terms of its restructured partnership with AstraZeneca, also entered into the settlement agreement.