Shire files lawsuit against Watson over Adderall XR

DUBLIN — British drug maker Shire has filed suit against Watson Pharmaceuticals and subsidiaries, alleging patent infringement in a case concerning a drug used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Shire announced Wednesday that it had filed the suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against Watson and several subsidiaries over their attempt to market a generic version of Adderall XR (amphetamine, dextroamphetamine mixed salts) and breach of contract.

The suit alleges that Watson infringed on three Shire patents and breached a settlement and licensing agreement concerning the drug that the companies reached in November 2007 by filing for approval of a generic version of Adderall XR with the Food and Drug Administration.