GlaxoSmithKline sues Roche/Genentech alleging Herceptin patent infringements; updates on Relovair Ph II development with Theravance

23 September 2010

UK pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (LSE: GSK) has filed a law suit in the USA against Swiss drug major Roche (ROG.VX), claiming it made antibodies, including Roche's blockbuster cancer drug Herceptin (trastuzumab) – which generated first-half 2010 sales of around $2.78 for the Swiss group, that infringed two of its patents, according to a batch of news reports including from Dow Jones and Swiss Info.

According to a filing in Delaware District Court, GSK claims Roche made therapeutic antibody products, "including without limitation Herceptin," that infringed two of its patents, which deal with antibody purification. GSK is seeking unspecified damages.

A spokeswoman for Genentech in the USA told Dow Jones that the second patent-infringement suit was filed by Genentech against GSK. Its suit was filed in Northern California District Court. She did not comment further on the cases because the litigation is pending, the newswire said.

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