Wednesday, June 5th, 2013
SEOUL, KOREA - Hanmi Pharmaceutical said on June 4 its patent dispute with AstraZeneca over "Esomezole," the drug to treat the symptoms of acid reflux disease including persistent heartburn, has been settled out of court.
In a trial held in a New Jersey local court, the two parties agreed that Hanmi would acknowledge the patent on "Nexium," AstraZeneca's patented drug to treat the same symptoms, while AstraZeneca would no longer raise complaints that Esomezole infringed upon Nexium's patent rights.
Currently Nexium holds the virtual monopoly position in the U.S. acid reflux drug market. AstraZeneca had raised a lawsuit in February 2011 against Esomezole to block its landing in the U.S. market. As Hanmi Pharmaceutical succeeded in settling the litigation, the company will soon apply for the sale of Esomezole in the United States with the Food and Drug Administration.