Shire Moves to Protect Gattex From Par Generic Challenge

Shire Plc is seeking to fend off generic competition to its on-the-rise Gattex drug from Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s Par Pharmaceutical Co.

Shire says the proposed generic infringes eight of its patents covering the drug in a new lawsuit it filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware July 28.

Gattex (teduglutide) is an injection that treats a nutrient malabsorption disorder called Short Bowel Syndrome. The drug has been a bright spot for Shire’s internal medicine line of products, whose sales dropped 5 percent in 2017 to $1.67 billion, according to the company’s latest annual report. Gattex sales ...