Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. has reached a settlement agreement to dismiss its patent-infringement lawsuit against Cipla Ltd., an Indian generic-drug maker, over proposed copies of its Qvar RediHaler asthma treatment. The agreement was approved by Judge Stanley R. Chesler in a consent order of dismissal issued in the US District Court for the District of New Jersey. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed, and neither Teva nor Cipla has commented on the matter.
Teva had filed the lawsuit in February 2024, seeking to block Cipla’s generic version of Qvar RediHaler, which is an inhalation aerosol used to treat asthma. The lawsuit alleged that Cipla’s proposed generic would infringe on Teva’s patents related to the medication. By settling the case, Teva has ended its efforts to prevent Cipla from launching a generic version of Qvar RediHaler, at least for the time being.
The agreement does not necessarily mean that Cipla will be able to launch its generic version of Qvar RediHaler immediately. The consent order of dismissal leaves the door open for either side to renew allegations in the future, suggesting that the dispute may not be fully resolved. Teva may still try to block Cipla’s generic version of Qvar RediHaler if it believes that Cipla’s product infringes on its patents.
The settlement is significant because it could impact the availability of affordable asthma treatments in the US. Qvar RediHaler is a prescription medication that is used to control and prevent symptoms of asthma. A generic version of the medication could provide a more affordable option for patients who rely on Qvar RediHaler to manage their asthma.
Overall, the settlement between Teva and Cipla highlights the complex and often contentious nature of patent disputes in the pharmaceutical industry. The agreement may have implications for patients, healthcare providers, and the pharmaceutical industry as a whole, and its impact will likely be closely watched in the coming months and years.