Boehringer Ingelheim obtains interim injunction against four Indian drug cos from selling its diabetes drug

German drug maker Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) on Tuesday said that it has obtained ad-interim injunctions against four domestic pharmaceutical companies - Eris Lifesciences, Emcure Pharma, Optimus Pharma and MSN Laboratories, that launched generic versions of Boehringer Ingelheim’s patent-protected drug Linagliptin, which is marketed under the brand name, Trajenta.

BI said the injunctions restrain the domestic pharma companies from infringing the patent of Linagliptin by advertising, launching, making, using, offering for sale, selling, importing or exporting in any form in India either by themselves or through their directors, partners licenses, stockist and distributors, agents etc., jointly and severally until the next date of hearing.

Boehringer Ingelheim holds a valid patent for Linagliptin in India until August 2023.

“The swift and just actions from the High Court over the past nine months have reaffirmed our faith in Indian legal system in securing the enforcement of patent rights and upholding of patient interests. This also underlines the strength of Boehringer Ingelheim’s patents," said Vani Manja, managing director, Boehringer Ingelheim India.

"We believe that upholding patent rights encourage a culture of innovation and R&D in the country,” Manja added.

In the last nine months, BI has received the following injunctions against generic pharmaceutical companies for patent infringement of its innovator drugs Jardiance (Empagliflozin) and Trajenta (Linagliptin) - these are two separate interim injunctions against Hyderabad-based Dr. Reddy’s Labs and MSN Labs, who had launched low-priced versions of its popular anti-diabetes drug empagliflozin. Under the brand Jardiance, BI holds a valid product patent in India until 2025.

Also, the company had secured an ad-interim injunction against Macleods Pharma for its Linagliptin drug, which was eventually made absolute.