US drugmaker Santarus said it filed a lawsuit against Dr Reddy's Laboratories, accusing the Indian drugmaker of infringing its patents on heartburn drug Zegerid.
The lawsuit, filed in a US district court, is in response to Dr Reddy's application with the US Food and Drug Administration, seeking approval to market generic versions of Zegerid before July 2016, when Santarus' patents on the drug expire.
Zegerid capsules, which treat heartburn and other symptoms related to gastroesophageal reflux disease, brought in sales of $10.3 million in the April-June period, about 3 per cent less than a year earlier.
A US district court in April 2010 ruled that Santarus' patents on Zegerid were invalid.
The California-based company appealed the ruling and is currently awaiting a decision on the case.
Santarus' shares, which have risen 85 per cent this year, closed at $6.14 on Wednesday on the Nasdaq.
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