Watson, Elan Corp. settle patent infringement suit

CORONA, Calif. Generic drug maker Watson Pharmaceuticals has settled with Irish pharmaceutical and biotech company Elan Corp. concerning patent litigation surrounding Watson’s generic version of an Elan drug.

Under the terms of the agreement, Watson will pay Elan $18 million to settle disputes over the development, manufacturing, marketing and sale of its generic version of the pain drug Naprelan (naproxen sodium). Watson also agreed not to market or sell its version until the expiration of Elan’s patent for the drug, which will occur in 2014, according to the Food and Drug Administration’s Orange Book.

In August, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida ruled that Watson’s generic Naprelan infringed Elan’s ‘320 patent on the drug.