DRL says no claims for monetary damages in US patent case

Drug major Dr Reddy's Laboratories on Friday  said there are no claims against the company for monetary damages after it received an unfavourable ruling in a US court regarding a patent infringement case over anti-nausea injection Aloxi.

"We would like to state that there are no claims against the company for monetary damages because the proposed palonosetron product has not been marketed," Dr Reddy's Laboratories said in a BSE filing.

"As for 'quantum of claims', the claims only sought injunctive relief against the company to prohibit the manufacturing, use, import and sale of the company's palonosetron product prior to expiration of the patents-in-suit.

"Therefore, the company believes there is no monetary 'compensation' or 'penalty' damages owed to Helsinn due to this decision," it added.

Dr Reddy's Laboratories yesterday said it has received an unfavourable ruling in a US court regarding a patent infringement case over Aloxi.

"The United States District Court for the District of New Jersey issued its opinion regarding Helsinn Healthcare's patent infringement claims against Dr Reddy's proposed palonosetron product," the company said.

"The court found that Dr Reddy's proposed palonosetron hydrochloride 0.25 mg/5 ml infringes on certain claims of US patents...and that the asserted claims were not valid," it added.

Helsinn Healthcare SA is a Switzerland-based pharma company.

"We are disappointed in the decision and intend to pursue an appeal in due course," a company spokesperson said.

Aloxi injection is used in adults to help prevent nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy.

Shares of Dr Reddy's were trading at Rs 2,922.10 apiece, down 0.16 per cent on BSE.