Perrigo, Apotex Sued by Meda Over Generic Version of Astepro Nasal Spray

Generic drugmakers Perrigo Co. (PRGO) and Apotex Inc. were sued by Meda Pharmaceuticals Inc. (783447Q) and accused of infringing a U.S. patent for the nasal spray Astepro, used to treat allergies.

Meda, based in Somerset, New Jersey, contends Perrigo, based in Allegan, Michigan, and Apotex, of Toronto, plan to market copies of the drug before its U.S. patent expires in 2028. It filed a complaint Jan. 19 in federal court in Trenton, New Jersey.

“Perrigo is committed to making quality health care more affordable for our customers,” Chief Executive Officer Joseph C. Papa said today in a statement.

An Apotex spokesman, Elie Betito, didn’t immediately reply to voice and e-mail messages seeking comment on the lawsuit.

Meda is a unit of Solna, Sweden-based Meda AB. (MEDAA)

The case is Meda v. Apotex, 12-cv-361, U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey (Trenton).

To see the patent, click: 8,071,073

To contact the reporter on this story: Phil Milford in Wilmington, Delaware, at pmilford@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Hytha at mhytha@bloomberg.net.