Natco Pharma dragged to Delhi HC over alleged patent violation

New Delhi: In a major setback to Natco Pharma, US-based FMC Corporation has filed a suit against NATCO for a Process Patent # IN 298645 in the Delhi High Court.

Patent IN 298645 covers a process to prepare CHLORANTRANILIPROLE (CTPR) that is set to expire on December 6, 2025.

NATCO has submitted to the Court that its CTPR process does not infringe IN 298645 and that it will launch its CTPR product after August 13, 2022, when the CTPR product patent expires with non-infringing process.

The next hearing date in this Suit is July 18, 2022.

In 2021, Delhi High Court had upheld an interim injunction against the drug maker filed by FMC Corporation over Chlorantraniliprole (CTPR), an ingredient that goes into making insecticides.

Delhi HC Restrains Natco Pharma From Infringing FMC Corporation Agrochemical Product

FMC sells chlorantraniliprole in India under the trade name Rynaxapyr active, which is the primary ingredient in Coragen and Ferterra insecticides.

Coragen and Ferterra insecticides are approved for controlling pests on rice, sugarcane, vegetables, maize as well as other important crops. These insecticides and their patented active ingredients are well known by farmers and recognized for their favorable safety and environmental profile, which has earned them a green label from India's regulatory body.

Read also: Delhi HC restrains Natco from infringing Novartis API containing Eltrombopag Olamine