AstraZeneca settles with generic drug makers over Seroquel XR

NEW YORK — Anglo-Swedish drug maker AstraZeneca has settled patent infringement lawsuits that it filed against two companies that had sought to market generic versions of one of its drugs.

The company settled with Handa Pharmaceuticals and also with Accord Healthcare and Intas Pharmaceuticals over two generic versions of the bipolar disorder and schizophrenia treatment Seroquel XR (quetiapine fumarate) extended-release tablets.

Under the settlements, Accord and Handa agreed not to dispute AstraZeneca's patents covering Seroquel XR, and both companies will be able to launch generic versions of the drug in November 2016. The patents covering Seroquel XR are scheduled to expire between March 2012 and November 2017.

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