Gilead, Roche sue Natco Pharma over generic Tamiflu

NEW YORK — Drug makers Gilead Sciences and Roche are suing Indian drug maker Natco Pharma concerning a generic version of an influenza treatment, according to published reports.

Bloomberg reported that Gilead and Roche were accusing Natco of patent infringement due to its efforts to gain approval from the Food and Drug Administration for a generic version of Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate). Natco became the first company to file for approval of a generic version in February.

Tamiflu had sales of around $1 billion in 2009, according to Bloomberg. The patents covering Tamiflu will expire in 2016 and 2017, according to FDA data.