Injunction lifted on Allegra-D 24 Hour

Sanofi-aventis is appealing a federal judge’s decision to lift the injunction against the sale of a generic Allegra-D 24 Hour product in the United States.

The U.S. District Court of New Jersey lifted the preliminary injunction in mid-January, clearing the sale of Dr. Reddy’s generic version of Allegra-D 24 Hour (fexofenadine hydrochloride/ pseudoephedrine hydrochloride). Sanofi-aventis and Albany Molecular Research sued Dr. Reddy’s over the sale of the generic Allegra, stating that Dr. Reddy’s product infringed on Albany Molecular’s patent. An injunction has been in place since June 2010.

“Sanofi-aventis continues to believe that Dr. Reddy’s generic version of Allegra-D 24 Hour infringes the intellectual property rights belonging to Albany and Sanofi-aventis. Sanofi-aventis U.S. will continue to vigorously defend its intellectual property rights,” said Susan Brooks, a Sanofi-aventis spokeswoman.

The action comes on the heels of Food and Drug Administration approval of Allegra and Allegra-D for OTC use.

Meanwhile, the U.S. District Court in New Jersey ruled that Sanofi-aventis and Albany Molecular must post a $40 million bond with the court “towards the possibility that the injunction had been wrongfully granted,” according to a statement from Dr. Reddy’s.