Astellas Sues Over New Myrbetriq Patent to Recapture Exclusivity

Astellas Pharma Inc. renewed the courtroom defense of its overactive-bladder treatment Myrbetriq, alleging in a new lawsuit that copies proposed by three generic-drug makers infringe a patent issued last week, less than two months after a judge canceled a related patent.

Seven weeks ago, Astellas lost a decision canceling a related patent that would’ve expired on the same date in March 2030 as the newly issued one. Astellas hopes the victory for Novartis AG’s Sandoz Inc., Lupin Ltd., and Zydus Lifesciences Ltd.—the three defendants who remained from a group Astellas sued in November 2020—ultimately will prove short-lived. ...