Roche Settles Patent Lawsuit Against Biogen

The lawsuit was over an arthritis drug.

Powder Bulk Solids Staff

October 24, 2023

1 Min Read
Pharma companies settle lawsuit on arthritis drug
Biogen and Roche were in court to settle a lawsuit Roche brought against the US biopharmaceutical company, claiming it was a patent infringement.Image courtesy of Victor_69 / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche has settled a patent lawsuit against US biotech firm Biogen over its biosimilar version of Roche's blockbuster rheumatoid arthritis drug Actemra, according to a filing in Massachusetts federal court.

Roche and its subsidiaries Genentech and Chugai Pharmaceutical jointly told the court without providing further details that they, Biogen and its manufacturer Bio-Thera had agreed to the case, reported Reuters.

A spokesperson for Genentech declined to comment. Representatives for Biogen and Bio-Thera did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Biosimilars are versions of biologic drugs that are comparable to generics of traditional small-molecule drugs. Unlike traditional drugs, complex biologic drugs are made from living cells and cannot be copied exactly.

Roche reported that it earned more than USD $3 billion based on current exchange rates from worldwide sales of its biologic Actemra last year. Actemra sales were down 22% from 2021 based on decreased demand for the drug as a COVID-19 treatment.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration last month approved Biogen's Tofidence, the first approved biosimilar to Actemra. Roche's lawsuit, filed in July, said the biosimilar would infringe several patents related to the manufacture and use of its biologic drug.

Biogen and Bio-Thera did not respond to the allegations in court.

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Powder Bulk Solids Staff

Established in 1983, Powder & Bulk Solids (PBS) serves industries that process, handle, and package dry particulate matter, including the food, chemical, and pharmaceutical markets.

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