Takeda Chemical Industries Ltd. said Wednesday it has filed lawsuits targeting three companies over alleged patent infringements concerning a diabetes drug in the United States.
In a joint maneuver with its U.S. subsidiary, Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America Inc., Takeda Chemical filed the suits Friday with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc., Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd.
Takeda Chemical said the action was taken in response to abbreviated new drug application filings with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by the three companies for generic versions of TPNA's Actos, a drug for therapy of type-2 diabetes.
Actos is an effective therapy option for type-2 diabetes. It works by reducing insulin resistance, a core metabolic defect in diabetics, according to Takeda Chemical and TPNA.
Takeda Chemical and TPNA said they "have full confidence in the validity and enforceability of these patents" and "will take appropriate steps to vigorously protect" their patent rights.