Santarus brings patent litigation against Par Pharmaceuticals over Zegerid

SAN DIEGO Specialty pharmaceutical company Santarus has filed a lawsuit against Par Pharmaceutical for patent infringements, the company said Thursday.

The lawsuit, which was filed with the U.S. District Court in Delaware, is in response to Par’s intention to market a generic version of Santarus’ Zegerid capsules prior to the July 2016 expiration of its three patents. The University of Missouri, licensor of the patents, has been listed as a co-plaintiff.

Par Pharmaceuticals recently filed for the new drug application with the Food and Drug Administration. If approved, the company will be granted market exclusivity.

Santarus has initiated the lawsuit within the 45 days required to automatically bar the FDA from approving Par’s application for 30 months, or until a district court decision that is adverse to Santarus.

Santarus is a pharmaceutical company that focuses on acquiring, developing and commercializing proprietary products that address the needs of patients treated by gastroenterologists or primary care physicians.