Novartis Sues HEC for Profits from Sales of Gilenya Copies (1)

Novartis AG expanded its courtroom defense of Gilenya, its blockbuster multiple sclerosis drug, alleging the label of HEC Pharm Co.’s copy, launched in October, infringes a patent by telling doctors to first test patients for the virus that causes chickenpox.

The labeling on HEC’s generic version includes a warning that instructs health-care providers to first test patients for varicella zoster virus if they haven’t been vaccinated for VZV or have no confirmed history of chickenpox, according to a complaint filed Wednesday in the US District Court for the District of Delaware. Those instructions, Novartis says, infringe the patent.

The ...