Week of December 31, 2012: Mylan, Orion Enter Into Comtan Settlement Agreement; Takeda, Amylin Terminate Agreement to Codevelop and Commercialize Compounds for Obesity; and More

Mylan Pharmaceuticals has entered into a settlement agreement with Orion that will resolve patent litigation related to 200-mg entacapone tablets. Entacapone tablets are the generic version of Orion’s Comtan, for treating patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease who experience the signs and symptoms of end-of-dose “wearing-off.” Under the agreement, Mylan may launch a generic version of 200-mg Comtan on Apr. 1, 2013, at the earliest. Pursuant to the agreement, pending litigation will be dismissed. All other terms and conditions of the settlement are confidential, and the agreement itself is subject to review by the US Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission. Read More

Sanofi has agreed to acquire the animal-health division of the India-based company Dosch Pharmaceuticals, creating a market entry for Merial (Sanofi’s animal-health division) in India’s animal-health sector. The agreement is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to finalize in the first half of 2013. Read More

Takeda Pharmaceutical has established of a new organization, “Global Customer Market Business Insights Department,” with the appointments of its senior leadership, effective Jan. 1, 2013. In addition, Takeda has changed of the name of the “Metabolic Disease Drug Discovery Unit” of its Pharmaceutical Research Division to “Cardiovascular and Metabolic Drug Discovery Unit.” Read More

In other news, Takeda and Amylin Pharmaceuticals have mutually terminated their worldwide agreement-originally signed in October 2009-to codevelop and commercialize compounds for treating obesity. The companies announced in August 2011 their decision to discontinue the development of pramlintide/metreleptin, an investigational combination therapy for treating obesity. That joint decision was based on a commercial reassessment of the pramlintide/metreleptin program, which had been in Phase II development as a twice-a-day injection formulation. The companies have since determined to formally terminate the partnership. Read More

A roundup of additional company and people news from pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies, their suppliers, and contract-service providers. Read More