Eisai wins injunction against Teva

WASHINGTON Japanese drug maker Eisai, which filed a patent lawsuit against Teva Pharmaceuticals, was granted an injunction, according to published reports.

The lawsuit against the generic drug maker Teva was intended to halt the marketing of the generic version of Eisai’s Aricept (donepezil), a drug used to treat Alzheimer’s disease. Even though Teva, according to published reports, claimed that the patent is unenforceable, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey ruled that no marketing can occur until the patent expires in 2010.

Teva is expecting the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the generic drug in 5 mg and 10 mg tablets around April 26.