Federal Circuit Halts MSN Entresto Copy, Weighs Longer Stay (1)

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. convinced the Federal Circuit to temporarily block MSN Pharmaceuticals Inc. from launching a generic version of blockbuster heart-failure drug Entresto while the two sides contest the need for a lengthier pause.

A Delaware district judge on July 11 ruled that MSN’s proposed generic doesn’t infringe a key patent covering the drug. An FDA exclusivity period that was tied to a separate Novartis patent ended on July 15, and so absent intervention from the appellate court, MSN could’ve begun selling its generic version Wednesday.

The two sides must complete briefing by July 21 on Novartis’ motion for a ...