U.S. Supreme Court rejects Novartis’ bid to prevent generic versions of Gilenya

The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected Novartis’ request to prevent the launch of generic versions of its multiple sclerosis drug Gilenya, in a dispute with China's HEC Pharm and other generic drug companies.

Novartis had requested the justices suspend a lower court's ruling that lifted a ban on generic versions of the drug.

[Read more: U.S. Court of Appeals upholds validity of Novartis' Gilenya patent]

Novartis sued HEC and more than a dozen other generic companies in Delaware federal court, after they applied for Food and Drug Administration clearance of Gilenya generics, accusing the firms of patent infringement.  

Novartis settled with several drug makers, including Aurobindo, Dr. Reddy’s, Sun Pharmaceutical, Viatris' Mylan and Apotex, which enables some Gilenya generics to enter to market before a key patent’s 2027 expiration.