Novartis Sues Aurobindo to Block Copies of Tasigna Leukemia Drug

Novartis AG said in a federal lawsuit that copies of its leukemia drug Tasigna proposed by Aurobindo Pharma Ltd.’s Eugia unit infringe six patents.

Novartis is seeking an order blocking Eugia’s generic version of the oral chemotherapy treatment until the patents have expired, and cash compensation if it makes copies before then, according to a complaint filed June 27 in the US District Court for the District of Delaware. The patents cover the composition and use of the pharmaceutical compound nilotinib—specifically, its various forms and methods of treating certain types of cancer.

US Patent No. 9,061,029 , which expires in ...