DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
Schering-Plough Corp. (SGP) reached an agreement with India's
Orchid Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (524372.BY) and Orgenus
Pharma Inc. that will allow those companies to sell generic forms
of its Clarinex allergy treatment starting in 2012.
Schering-Plough holds patents on Clarinex that extend to
2022.
The deal ends all pending lawsuits filed since 2006 in federal
court in New Jersey against several generic drug manufacturing
companies that had sought approval to sell generic brands before
Schering-Plough's patents expired. Schering-Plough, which is
preparing to merge with Merck & Co. (MRK), previously settled
suits against about 15 other companies.
Orchid will introduce a generic version of Clarinex Reditabs in
the U.S. on Jan. 1, 2012, and Clarinex brand 5-milligram tablets on
July 1, 2012.
Schering-Plough's shares closed Tuesday at $26.63, down 0.7%,
and were inactive after hours.
-By Kathy Shwiff, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2357;
Kathy.Shwiff@dowjones.com