Pfizer launches legal action to block Xeljanz copies in India

Pfizer has pre-emptively sued a number of India-based drug companies including Sun Pharma and Zydus Cadila to block any attempts to copy its rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment Xeljanz.

The US pharma firm filed a case last month against Sun Pharma claiming infringement of its patents and sought to injunct the Indian drug maker from developing the compound, but no injunction has as yet been granted. On Aug 24, Pfizer questioned if Sun Pharmahad launched the product in the domestic market.

The Economic Times reported that a source claimed Pfizer may have taken the legal route to block Sun Pharma from exporting test batches to the US as part of its preparations for filing dossiers with the US FDA.

Xeljanz has generated over $200 million for the company in last quarter and has been approved for sale in India according to the drugmaker. The product is an orally-administered pill, as opposed to injection which is far more widely used to treat RA.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced earlier this year that it is to review the Marketing Authorisation Application for the drug after its initial rejection in the region several years ago.

Matt Fellows