Genentech Sues Pfizer Over Herceptin Biosimilar Patents

Genentech filed a lawsuit aiming to stop Pfizer’s proposed Herceptin biosimilar from reaching the market — asking the court to compensate for losses in sales should the copy launch before 2019, when several patents are set to expire.

The complaint, filed in Delaware federal court, argued Pfizer’s biosimilar would infringe 40 Genentech patents on the blockbuster breast cancer drug.

The FDA accepted Pfizer’s biosimilar application in August, and the company forwarded a copy to Genentech in October. However, Pfizer did not disclose all the relevant patent information, according to the complaint.