TORONTO, Aug. 9 (UPI) -- Apotex Inc., Canada's largest prescription drug maker, has launched a generic version of Plavix, a popular blood-thinner.
The move surprised the market and could lead to litigation from France's Sanofi-Aventis SA and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., which sells the hugely profitable Plavix in the United States, the Globe and Mail reported Wednesday.
Sanofi said Tuesday it will "vigorously pursue enforcement of their patent rights in Plavix" after a New York judge denied a request to halt temporarily sales of the generic drug.
Besides the drug makers, other litigants in separate legal actions are direct purchasers who want to see the generic version of Plavix made available. Direct purchasers have been worried that Apotex may come to terms with Sanofi and Bristol on a deal that could delay generic Plavix.