GSK notice to Akums, associate on alleged trademark infringement on its Ranitidine brand Zinetac
New Delhi: Locking horns over alleged trademark infringement of 'Zinetac', Glaxo Smith Kline (GSK) Pharmaceuticals has issued cease and desist notices to Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals (ADPL) and its associate Nicholas Healthcare, seeking to stop selling ranitidine under brand name 'Zintac', reports The Economic Times.
The mark Zinetac and Zantac are owned by GSK. It makes use of Zantac trademark for its ranitidine medicines outside India.
However, following regulatory considerations over the presence of N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) — a possible human carcinogen within the ranitidine lively pharmaceutical components, GSK discontinued Zinetac/Zantac 150 mg and 300 mg tablets globally in Could 2020.
Whilst GSK exited, different ranitidine manufacturers proceed to be obtainable within the Indian market. Zinetac for years was the highest promoting model of GSK, with gross sales of over Rs 200 crore yearly.
The Indian unit of British drug maker GSK additional alleged that Nicholas Healthcare and Akums are additionally utilizing equivalent packaging to reap the benefits of the recognition of its model, individuals conscious of the event mentioned.
Also Read: Sanofi, GSK, Pfizer, Boehringer Must Face Zantac Class-Action Lawsuits: Court
"It could be inappropriate for GSK to touch upon pending or ongoing litigation, save to say that GSK disagrees with ADPL's incomplete abstract of the scenario. GSK is dedicated to upholding and defending its legit trademark rights," a GSK spokesperson told ET.
Meanwhile, Akums in a press release told ET that it has not violated any emblems of GSK and has independently coined the model title Zintac.
"To the very best of our information, GSK has given an endeavor earlier than the NPPA (Nationwide Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority) authorities that it shall not market ranitidine merchandise beneath the model title of Zinetac," it mentioned.
"The model registration in favour of GSK has already expired as GSK didn't renew the model and the model stands deserted. We have now independently coined and adopted the model Title Zintac," it added.
Akums further mentioned, "We already have the model registered at school 5 beneath the Authorities of India as Zintac Penta SR (a mix of pantoprazole and domperidone) and plenty of different comparable (merchandise) are beneath course of."
Also Read: ZENTEL VERSUS FENTEL: HC Restrains Manufacture, Sale Of Medicine For Violation Of Trademark
To mention, GSK offered its newly constructed manufacturing plant in Vemgal, Karnataka established for the aim of creating ranitidine merchandise, taking an impairment cost of round Rs 640 crore.
Sources aware of the matter told ET that the corporate is but to resolve whether or not to relaunch the Zinetac model with non-ranitidine formulation or to promote it altogether.
