WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., May 11 (UPI) -- Barr Pharmaceuticals said Thursday is has been sued by Eli Lilly on the patent covering Lilly's anti-depressant drug Prozac.
The generic-drug firm said it is the first company to file for approval from the Food and Drug Administration for a generic version of the 90 mg fluoxetine hydrochloride capsule.
Barr filed for the approval of the generic product in September.
Barr generic estimated U.S. sales of Prozac at about $40 million for the 12 months ending in March, quoting data from IMS Health.
The generic-drug maker noted that Lilly filed its patent-infringement suit May 10 in U.S. District court for the Southern District of Indiana, based on a Prozac reissue patent awarded to Lilly March 21.
If Barr prevails in the patent suit, it would be entitled to six months' market exclusivity for being the first company to market a generic version of Prozac.
