Multinational pharmaceutical giant Boehringer Ingelheim has acquired ad-interim injunctions against four Indian pharmaceutical companies. These companies had dispatched generic versions of a patent-protected drug manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim.
In a recent event, four Indian pharmaceutical companies got an ad-interim injunction against them from Boehringer Ingelheim. The firms had launched a generic version of the drug Linagliptin, which is patent-protected and produced by Boehringer Ingelheim. The drug is sold under the name Trajenta.
The four domestic pharmaceuticals include Emcure Pharma, Optimus Pharma, MSN Laboratories, and Eris Lifesciences.
What Does the ad-interim against Indian pharmaceuticals mean?
Boehringer Ingelheim said in a recent statement to Business Standard that the company has injunctions against four Indian pharmaceutical companies. The injunction would mean that the four pharma companies could not violate the patent on Linagliptin.
The pharma giant further states that these four firms cannot launch, advertise, manufacture, use, sell, offer for sale, import, or export the drug in any form in India. They are also not permitted to do so through partners, directors, stockists, agents, distributors, or third parties.
Boehringer Ingelheim currently has a patent for the manufacture and sale of Linagliptin until August 2023 in India. The four pharma companies will have to wait for the next hearing date to jointly and separately undertake these actions.
The High Court’s prompt and reasonable decisions over the last nine months have renewed their trust in the Indian legal system to protect patent rights and preserve client concerns.
Response of the representative of Boehringer Ingelheim India
The managing director of Boehringer Ingelheim India, Vani Manja, told Business Standard that the order from the High Court is swift and just. It has reaffirmed their faith in the Indian legal system that helped them secure the enforcement of patent rights and uphold patient interests.
The managing director further stated that they remain committed to making a positive difference in patients’ lives with their innovative drugs. The order from the high court underlines the strength of their patents. The managing director also said that they expect all responsible citizens to uphold the valid patents of Boehringer Ingelheim for innovator drugs.
Other pharmaceuticals that got ad-interim from Boehringer Ingelheim
Earlier, the multinational drug manufacturer had acquired injunctions against MSN Laboratories and Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (DRL). The company got the injunctions for the diabetic drug Empagliflozin that it manufactures and sells under the brand name Jardiance in India. The pharmaceutical giant had also obtained ad-interim injunctions against Macleods Pharma. It secured the injunction against Linagliptin but made it absolute eventually.
The pharmaceutical giant had obtained two ad-interim injunctions for its drugs Empagliflozin, marketed as Jardiance, and Linagliptin marketed as Trajenta. The injunctions were against MSN Labs and Hyderabad-based Dr Reddy’s Labs, as these companies had launched generic versions of the diabetic drug Empagliflozin at a lower price. Boehringer Ingelheim holds a valid patent for selling and manufacturing the drug in India till 2025.
After getting the ad-interim injunctions, the managing director of Boehringer Ingelheim India said that upholding patent rights encourages innovation, research, and development in the country.
