Nexus’ Copies of Melinta’s Minocin Antibiotic Blocked Until 2031

Nexus Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s generic version of Minocin is blocked until May 2031, when two patents for Melinta Therapeutics LLC’s injectable antibiotic expire, a federal judge ruled.

Nexus’ copy, which the US Food and Drug Administration approved last month, infringes US Patent Nos. 9,084,802 and 9,278,105, covering methods to treat bacterial infections, according to a Nov. 15 ruling from Judge John F. Kness issued by the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Kness rejected Nexus’ arguments for voiding the patents related to the intravenous formulation and administration of Minocin’s active ingredient, minocycline. He separately issued a permanent ...