Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, July 16, 2003 Three Rivers Pharmaceuticals, LLC today announced that the United States District Court for the Central District of California granted its motion for Summary Judgment in the patent infringement case filed against it by ICN Pharmaceuticals.
The district court determined that the Three Rivers product did not infringe any of the patents asserted by ICN Pharmaceuticals in the litigation. This decision removes the final patent barrier for Three Rivers in its pursuit to manufacture and commercially market a generic form of the drug ribavirin.
Three Rivers, in conjunction with its marketing partner Par Pharmaceutical (NYSE:PRX), will not commercially launch their ribavirin drug product until receiving FDA approval and a final determination on the 180-day exclusivity period granted to generic filers under the Hatch-Waxman Act of 1984.
We view this as a tremendous victory, not only for Three Rivers and Par, but also for the hepatitis C community. We are committed to providing affordable ribavirin to persons afflicted with hepatitis C. said Donald J. Kerrish, President of Three Rivers.
Three Rivers was represented in this case by attorneys Steven A. Maddox and David L. Rosen, formerly of McDermott, Will, & Emery, now with GrayCary.
Ribavirin, marketed by Schering-Plough under the brand name Rebetol® is indicated for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C and had U.S. sales of approximately $800 million in the past year.
About Three Rivers Pharmaceuticals
Three Rivers Pharmaceuticals, LLC, is a privately owned generic drug manufacturing company located in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, just north of Pittsburgh. 3riverspharma.com
Contact:
Donald Kerrish
President
Three Rivers Pharmaceuticals, LLC
(724) 778-6100