Warner Chilcott files infringement suit over contraceptives

ARDEE, Ireland Drug maker Warner Chilcott is asking a Delaware judge to uphold its patent on two of its drugs.

The Ireland-based pharmaceutical company announced Thursday that it had filed suit in the District Court for the District of Delaware against a subsidiary of Indian drug maker Lupin Pharmaceuticals for submitting approval applications to make generic versions of the oral contraceptives Loestrin 24 FE (norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol) and Femcon FE, a chewable contraceptive with the same active ingredients.

Warner Chilcott accuses Lupin of infringing U.S. Patent Nos. 5,552,394 and 6,667,050, respectively and seeks to block Lupin from manufacturing generic versions of the drugs before the respective 2014 and 2019 expirations of the patients.