GSK sends notices to Akums, Associate over 'Zinetac' brand

Glaxosmithkline Pharmaceuticals has issued cease and desist notices to Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals (ADPL) and its associate Nicholas Healthcare, demanding to stop selling ranitidine under brand name ‘Zintac’, alleging that it’s an infringement of its trademark ‘Zinetac’.
The Indian unit of British drugmaker GSK further alleged that Nicholas Healthcare and Akums are also using identical packaging to take advantage of the popularity of its brand, people aware of the development said.

GSK confirmed to ET that it has issued cease and desist notice to the two firms but declined to comment further.

“It would be inappropriate for GSK to comment on pending or ongoing litigation, save to say that GSK disagrees with ADPL’s incomplete summary of the situation. GSK is committed to upholding and defending its legitimate trademark rights,” a GSK spokesperson said.

Akums told ET in a statement that it has not violated any trademarks of GSK and has independently coined the brand name Zintac.

“To the best of our knowledge, GSK has given an undertaking before the NPPA (National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority) authorities that it shall not market ranitidine products under the brand name of Zinetac,” it said. “The brand registration in favour of GSK has already expired as GSK did not renew the brand and the brand stands abandoned. We have independently coined and adopted the brand Name Zintac.”

Akums further said, “We have already got the brand registered in class 5 under the Government of India as Zintac Penta SR (a combination of pantoprazole and domperidone) and many other similar (products) are under process.”

GSK owns trademarks Zinetac and Zantac. It uses Zantac trademark for its ranitidine medications outside India.

GSK discontinued Zinetac/Zantac 150 mg and 300 mg tablets globally in May 2020, following regulatory concerns over the presence of N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) — a probable human carcinogen in the ranitidine active pharmaceutical ingredients.

GSK sold its newly built manufacturing plant in Vemgal, Karnataka established for the purpose of making ranitidine products, taking an impairment charge of around Rs 640 crore.

Zinetac for years was the top selling brand of GSK, with sales of over Rs 200 crore annually. Even as GSK exited, other ranitidine brands continue to be available in the Indian market.

The company is yet to decide whether to relaunch the Zinetac brand with non-ranitidine formulation or to sell it altogether, people aware of the matter told ET.