In Court

Reprieve for generic drug: American firm Bristol-Myers Squibb’s (BMS) appeal to temporarily stop Ranbaxy from selling the generic version of its hepatitis B drug in India has been turned down by the Delhi High Court.

Earlier in March, the court had turned down BMS’ plea to stop Ranbaxy from launching its drug, Baraclude (Entecavir), but admitted the case. The Mumbai patent office gave BMS the patent for the drug in 2008.

The drug is among the company’s best sellers, raking in US $439 million for the six-month period ended June 2010. The case will now go to trial to determine whether Ranbaxy’s generic version infringes the patent.