NEW DELHI: Stock of Dr Reddy's Laboratories on Wednesday appeared unmoved by reports of AstraZeneca filing a lawsuit against the domestic drug maker in the Delhi High Court.The legal move is a bid to stop DRL from launching generic versions of Brilinta, AstraZeneca's blockbuster medicine for heart ailments.The UK biopharmaceutical company claims that the potential launch of the copies infringes one of its existing patents on the drug, ET reported.At 10 am, Dr Reddy's Laboratories rose 0.22 per cent to Rs 2,080.45.
AstraZeneca's Indian arm fell a similar percentage to Rs 1,462.55.The Delhi High Court asked DRL on Tuesday to file a reply to the lawsuit and will hear its arguments on July 31, said lawyers aware of the developments.
Until then, DRL cannot launch the generic version of the drug, they told ET.Copies of the drug can be manufactured only after all the patents covering it expire, Astra-Zenecas counsel argued in the court on Tuesday.
The case is making news as DRL has not been seen as an aggressive challenger of drug patents in India.Brilinta, which is used for reducing chances of heart attacks or strokes by preventing blood clots in vessels, achieved blockbuster status in 2017 when it raked in over $1 billion in global sales for AstraZeneca.DRLs generic version was to be marketed as Ticaflo, according to those in the know.