• 21
  • April
    2011

Reuters reports that a Texas court recently granted a preliminary injunction order to Pozen Inc, a pharmaceutical company headquartered in Chapel Hill, NC, against Par Pharmaceutical, ordering Par not to manufacturer or sell its generic version of a popular migraine medication called Treximet.

The drug in question, Treximet, is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline and Pozen. Pozen currently owns several U.S. patents on Treximet, which is licensed to pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline. Two of those patents expire in August 2017, and another in October of 2025. Regulatory exclusivity on the drug reportedly expired last Friday.

Last Friday's order arose from a patent infringement suit Pozen filed against three companies. Apparently Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc, part of the Israel-based Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, was dismissed without prejudice from litigation consolidated back in April 2010.

Pozen, founded in 1996, primarily focuses on developing products for the treatment of migraine, acute and chronic pain and other pain-related indications. The injunction is a victory for the company, has recently been engaged in a battle to keep generic versions of Treximet of the market.

Pozen is also currently involved in a patent suit against Alphapharm Pty Ltd, an Australian pharmaceutical that manufactures various generic pharmaceutical medicines, as well as Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, a major pharmaceutical based out of India.

In a statement released to the public, the company said the injunction is to remain in effect until a final decision is made in the case.

Sources said Pozen shares were up to $6.32 in premarket trade last Friday, a 9 percent raise from closing Nasdaq prices last Thursday.

Treximet, unlike Topamax-also a migraine medication-has not been implicated in increased risk of cleft palate when taken by pregnant women.

Source: Reuters, "UPDATE 1-Pozen gets court relief on migraine drug vs Par Pharma," 15 April 2011.