Hikma wins US patent case

(Sharecast News) - Generic drugmaker Hikma Pharmaceuticals said on Tuesday that the US District Court of Nevada had ruled that its version of Amarin Corporation's Vascepa did not infringe six patents.
Hikma said the court had ruled in its favour as the patents related to its generic 1gm capsules were held to be invalid.

The FTSE 100 company said it was now working closely with the US Food and Drug Administration to gain approval for its Abbreviated New Drug Application for the generic version of Vascepa and was also evaluating options for launching the product following FDA approval, including an at-risk launch in the event of an appeal of the District Court's decision.

Brian Hoffmann, Hikma's president of generics, said: "We are very pleased with the District Court's decision, which demonstrates our continued ability to successfully litigate to bring greater value to our customers and patients in the US.

"We look forward to providing patients and health care providers in the US with a generic version of this important medicine."

As of 0840 BST, Hikma shares were up 3.95% at 2,042p.