AstraZeneca granted preliminary injunction against Apotex

WILMINGTON, Del. The U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey has granted drug maker AstraZeneca a preliminary injunction to prevent a generic drug maker from launching a version of one of its asthma treatments.

The Anglo-Swedish drug maker announced Wednesday the injunction barring Apotex from launching a generic version of Pulmicort Respules (budesonide inhalation suspension) for the U.S. market.

The Food and Drug Administration granted approval for Apotex’s product on March 30, prompting AstraZeneca to file a patent litigation suit.

Patents covering Pulmicort Respules expire in 2018, with pediatric exclusivity lasting until the following year. Sales of Pulmicort products, including Pulmicort Respules, were $982 million in 2008.