Watson, Biovail Settle Cardizem LA Suit

Watson Pharmaceuticals will begin marketing generic Cardizem LA, which is indicated for once-daily treatment of hypertension and the management of chronic stable angina, no earlier than April 2009 under an agreement the company entered into with Biovail Laboratories International.

The settlement ends patent litigation between Biovail and Andrx Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Watson, related to Andrx’s application for a generic version of Cardizem LA (diltiazem HCl). Biovail had filed suit against Andrx in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware.

Under the settlement, Biovail has granted Watson an exclusive license to its U.S. patents covering the drug, and Biovail will receive a royalty based on sales of Watson’s product. Other details of the settlement were not disclosed.

The settlement is subject to the approval of the court, the Justice Department and the FTC.