Amgen Wins Halt of Copies for Blockbuster Otezla Until 2028 (1)

Amgen Inc. won a U.S. federal court ruling that could block generic versions of its blockbuster arthritis drug Otezla for another six and a half years, though it lost an effort to fend off a copycat after that.

A proposed copy by Cadila Healthcare Ltd.’s Zydus unit would infringe a patent that expires in February 2028 and covers the drug’s composition, U.S. District Judge Michael Shipp in New Jersey ruled Monday, after a nine-day bench trial in June. Shipp’s order was posted on the court’s electronic docket. His full written opinion remains under seal.

The judge also found Zydus ...