Roche Sues Pfizer to Block Biosimilar of Cancer Drug Herceptin
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Roche has filed a lawsuit seeking to block Pfizer from launching a biosimilar of Herceptin in the US, Bloomberg reported.
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In the litigation filed in US federal court, Roche's Genentech unit argued that the proposed biosimilar, named PF-05280014, would violate 40 patents covering Herceptin.
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Roche is additionally seeking compensation for lost revenue if Pfizer launches its biosimilar before patents for Herceptin expire.
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"We will respond in court at the appropriate time," Pfizer spokesman Thomas Biegi remarked, adding "we’re committed to making this important treatment option available to physicians and patients."
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The US Patent Trial and Appeal Board has agreed to review the validity of three patents covering the drug following challenges by Pfizer's Hospira unit, with decisions anticipated next year.
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Meanwhile, Samsung Bioepis' Herceptin biosimilar Ontruzant was cleared in Europe earlier this month.
