Bristol-Myers, Pfizer Sue to Block Copies of Blockbuster Eliquis

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and business partner Pfizer Inc. allege that copies of Eliquis proposed by two makers of generic drugs infringe a patent for the blockbuster blood-thinner.

The pharmaceutical giants’ complaints—one against Biocon Pharma Ltd., another against ScieGen Pharmaceuticals Inc.—were filed April 6 and docketed Monday in the US District Court for the District of Delaware. They seek orders blocking the generics until after the Eliquis patent has expired, or cash compensation if copies of the drug are made before then.

Each copy infringes the companies’ US Patent No. 9,326,945, which will expire in February 2031, according ...