Sanofi Sues Merck Over Lantus Biosimilar

Sanofi has filed a lawsuit against Merck, alleging the company’s Lantus biosimilar infringes on 10 patents.

The patents in dispute cover the drug and the pen injector used to deliver Sanofi’s Lantus and Lantus SoloStar. Merck submitted an application for the approval of a Lantus biosimilar last month.

Merck is the second company to face an infringement suit from Sanofi for the development of a Lantus biosimilar. Sanofi settled the first patent suit against Eli Lilly with a deal that delays biosimilar launch and requires royalty payments.