Glenmark faces patent infringement case in US for malaria drug

Smithkline Beecham Corporation, a part of global pharma major Glaxosmithkline (GSK), has filed a patent infringement lawsuit on the company's US subsidiary Glenmark Generics Inc in the District Court of Delaware, the Mumbai-headquartered firm said in a statement to the stock exchanges.
The lawsuit is in connection with Glenmark's intention to make generic versions of two tablets- Atovaquone and Proguanil hydrochloride on which GSK holds a patent right.
GSK currently markets their product as 'Malarone' in the US for the treatment of malaria. According to an estimate, for the 12 months ended June, total sales of the product in the US is about USD 53 million.
In the event of Glenmark's successfully challenging GSK's patent, the company would be entitled for a 180-days exclusive marketing rights of these tablets in the US.
Glenmark has already filed an application before the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for manufacturing the generic versions of Atovaquone and Proguanil. The company believes it is the sole first applicant for these tablets.
Shares of Glenmark Pharma rose by nearly three per cent and were trading at Rs 255 in afternoon trade on the BSE.