Endo sues Impax for patent infringement

[Metropolitanjury]

Endo Pharmaceuticals Holdings Inc. and another company have sued generic drug maker Impax Pharmaceuticals Inc. for patent infringement related to the pain treatment oxymorphone hydrochloride.

Hayward, Calif.-based Impax has applied to make a generic form of the pain drug known as Opana ER. Endo and Penwest Pharmaceuticals Co., which make and sell Opana ER, sued Impax based on an amendment to that application. The amendment added new dosages of the drug — 7.5 mg, 15 mg and 30 mg.

Impax had already applied for dosages of 5, 10, 20 and 40 mg. It says its generic copy of the drug doesn't infringe any patents.

Endo, based in Chadds Ford, Pa., got FDA approval for its own 7.5 mg, 15 mg and 30 mg doses of Opana ER in March.

By Ms.Bobby Aanand, Metropolitan Jury