Ranbaxy to sell generic Valtrex in '09

PRINCETON, N.J., July 26 (UPI) -- Ranbaxy and GlaxoSmithKline said Thursday they have settled their U.S. patent dispute litigation over the herpes drug Valtrex.

Under a settlement deal, Indian generic firm Ranbaxy will launch its generic version of the antiviral on the U.S. market in late 2009 and will have six months' market exclusivity as the first company to sell a generic copy of Valtrex.

In addition, Ranbaxy has also obtained a license to two GSK patents covering the drug. Annual sales of Valtrex are about $1.3 billion, Ranbaxy said.

Ranbaxy was approved for U.S. sales of generic Valtrex in February.