Novartis Sues Teva to Block Copies of Tasigna Leukemia Drug

Novartis AG alleged in a federal lawsuit that Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.’s proposed copy of Tasigna infringes six patents for the leukemia treatment.

Novartis is seeking an order blocking Teva’s generic version of the oral chemotherapy drug until the patents have expired, and cash compensation if Teva makes copies before then, according to a complaint filed Thursday 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.

• The latest expiration among the asserted patents is US Patent ...