Novartis Sues Roche to Retrieve $210 Million in Licensing Fees

Novartis has filed a lawsuit against Roche in a California federal court, seeking the return of $210 million that it allegedly mistakenly overpaid to license several patents.

In 2006, Novartis acquired drugmaker Chiron, taking on that company’s patent licensing fees to Roche. The fees were associated with the development of Novartis’ blockbuster psoriasis drug Cosentyx (secukinumab) and its anti-inflammatory drug Ilaris (canakinumab).

Cosentyx is Novartis’ highest-selling drug, earning $4 billion last year. And Ilaris earned global revenue of $900 million in 2020.