Somaxon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (SOMX) disclosed it filed a
patent-infringement lawsuit against Par Pharmaceutical Inc. (PRX),
following Par's request for approval to market generic versions of
sleep aid Silenor in the U.S.
The suit is Somaxon's latest against a generic applicant for
Silenor, its first product on the market. In February, it filed a
separate lawsuit against Par that involved a different patent also
related to Silenor. It has also engaged in litigation with
companies such as Mylan Inc. (MYL).
Par couldn't immediately be reached for comment.
Somaxon reported earlier this month its first-quarter loss
widened sharply on higher costs, though it reported product sales,
of which it had none a year earlier.
Somaxon's shares closed down Friday at $2.35, while Par finished
higher at $33.62. Neither was active after-hours.
-By Matt Jarzemsky, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2240;
matthew.jarzemsky@dowjones.com