Indian court bars Glenmark's generic of Merck's Januvia

An Indian court has banned Indian pharma company Glenmark from selling generics of Januvia (sitagliptin) from Merck & Co (NYSE: MRK).

Glenmark cannot sell, distribute, market or export generics of Januvia as the Delhi High Court ruled that those generics, branded as Zita and Zita-Met, contain the same active ingredient as Merck’s product. Januvia generated global sales of $3.9 billion in 2014.

The lawsuit was filed by Merck against Glenmark in April 2013 alleging that it infringed patents, while the Delhi High Court rejected Merck’s request for an interim injunction later the same month. India’s Supreme Court, however, barred Glenmark from marketing or selling its generic products in May 2015.