Ranbaxy agree Actos generic deal

Ranbaxy Laboratories has reached an agreement with Takeda Pharmaceuticals to launch a generic version of its blockbuster diabetes drug treatment, Actos (pioglitazone hydrochloride), in the US.

The deal will see the two companies resolve patent litigation that has been outstanding since makers of Actos, Takeda sued Ranbaxy, along with Watson Pharmaceuticals and Mylan Laboratories, in 2003 over potential generic versions.

Full terms of the settlement have yet to be disclosed, though Takeda will grant Ranbaxy, India's largest pharmaceutical company, a non-exclusive royalty free license to its US patents covering Actos. Ranbaxy will be allowed to launch its generic version in the US on August 17, 2012, or earlier under certain circumstances.

Takeda had previously announced a similar agreement with Watson Pharmaceuticals regarding their own generic version of Actos.

Jim Meehan, vice president of sales and distribution for Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Inc (RPI), part of the Ranbaxy family, said: "This agreement will allow RPI to bring to patients with diabetes a generic alternative in this important therapeutic area."

Actos is one of Takeda's biggest selling drugs, achieving around $3.4bn in brand sales for 2009.