Sanofi-Aventis settles patent infringement suit with generic drug manufacturers

French drug maker Sanofi-Aventis has settled three patent infringement lawsuits in the US over the generic versions of its colon cancer drug Eloxatin involving several drug manufacturers.

Under the settlement arrived on Thursday, generic drug manufacturers, including Israel's Teva Pharmaceuticals, Germany's Fresenius Kabi, and Sandoz have agreed to cease selling the drug from 30 June 2010 to 9 August 2012.

The lawsuits relate to the quality and formulation of oxaliplatin, available in the US under the brand name Eloxatin.

Sanofi-Aventis, without disclosing the terms of the settlement, said the agreements are subject to review by the US Federal Trade Commission, the US Department of Justice and the Attorney General for the State of Michigan.

But the Paris-based Sanofi-Aventis did not mention similar settlements with other generic sellers of the drug like Indian drug maker Sun Pharmaceuticals, which launched a generic version last year and the US-based Hospira.

But it did say that it is still negotiating with other generic manufacturers, Turkey's MN Pharmaceuticals and the US-based Mayne Pharma Inc, and Actavis Inc, which continue to sell the generic version of Eloxatin.