Sanofi-aventis blocks generic Allegra

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Sanofi-aventis blocks generic Allegra

Genéricos/Novedades | Posted 25/06/2010 0 Post your comment

On 14 June 2010, a US court backed sanofi-aventis and Albany Molecular Research in their bid to prevent Dr Reddy’s selling a generic version of the anti-allergenic medication, Allegra-D 24 Hour (fexofenadine HCl/pseudoephedrine HCl).

Albany Molecular Research and sanofi-aventis are partners on Allegra, with Albany Molecular receiving royalties on sales of Allegra and authorised generic versions.

This is a blow for the Indian generics company, Dr Reddy, who gained FDA approval for its generic version of Allegra in March 2010, and had expected to pull in around US$150 million over the next three years from the copy.

According to sanofi-aventis’ first-quarter results, Allegra sales in the first quarter of 2010 were worth Euros 170 million, down 27% on the same period in 2009.

Albany Molecular Research and sanofi-aventis want to continue to market Allegra in the US. Plans by sanofi-aventis to obtain over-the-counter status for the shorter-acting version, Allegra-D 12 Hour remain on track.

Generic versions of Allegra-D 12 Hour already exist, including an authorised copy, which was part of a settlement from an earlier generic challenge.