NOVOPHARM FACES FRICTION FROM GLAXO
By Adnews Staff
Novopharm Inc. of Toronto says it plans to make a generic version of the anti-ulcer medication Zantac in the U.S. in December, despite an appeal by Glaxo Wellcome to stop the company. In addition, Novopharm is considering launching a lawsuit against Glaxo because of the appeal. A U.S. federal court in North Carolina ruled earlier this month that Novopharm can begin selling the generic version of Zantac when the first of two U.S. patents Glaxo has on the drug expires in July 1997. Glaxo claims that Novopharm can make the generic versoin of Zantac only by infringing on a second patent on the basic ingredient in the drug, rantidine hydrochloride, which doesn't expire until 2002. In Canada, Novopharm has been marketing a generic version of Zantac for five years.