Indian court says Sinopharm Weiqida's amoxicillin trihydrate product infringes Centrient patent

Netherlands-based Centrient Pharmaceuticals, a manufacturer of beta-lactam antibiotics, and a provider of next generation statins and anti-fungals, announced that the Delhi High Court in India has granted an injunction against Sinopharm Weiqida Pharmaceuticals and Sinopharm India, restricting the export and/or import into India of its active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) amoxicillin trihydrate.

In addition, the Delhi High Court found Sinopharm Weiqida prima facie guilty of contempt of Court for illegally importing amoxicillin active ingredients in contravention of the previously granted preliminary injunction in place in India since April 2017. The Court further found that Sinopharm Weiqida has infringed the patent of Centrient.

Centrient is putting all buyers of Weiqida’s amoxicillin trihydrate active pharmaceutical ingredient in India on notice (even if such API transits through India under advanced license) to be aware of the above orders of the Delhi High Court. Centrient will ensure full compliance of the orders of the Delhi High Court and will notify the Indian Customs Authority and other authorities to seize all future Weiqida amoxicillin shipments at the relevant customs facilities.