J&J’s Actelion, Nippon Sue Lannett to Block Copies of Uptravi

Generic versions of Uptravi tablets proposed by Lannett Co. infringe two patents Johnson & Johnson’s Actelion unit licenses from Nippon Shinyaku Co. for the blockbuster pulmonary arterial hypertension drug, a federal lawsuit says.

Lannett’s copies of Uptravi’s tablet formulations infringe US Patent Nos. 8,791,122 and 9,284,280, according to a complaint filed Thursday and docketed Friday in the US District Court for the District of Delaware. The patents cover a crystal form of selexipag, Uptravi’s active ingredient, and its use for treating high blood pressure in the arteries connecting the heart and lungs; they’ll expire in August 2030 and June ...