Natco Named In US Antitrust Law Suit On Cancer Drug

Drugmaker Natco Pharma has been named as one of the defendants in an antitrust lawsuit in the US regarding cancer drug Lenalidomide (Revlimid).

“Bristol Myers Squibb, Teva and Natco have been named defendants in an antitrust lawsuit in the U.S. by Walgreens Co. regarding Lenalidomide (Revlimid),” Natco said in a filing with the stock exchange on Saturday. “Natco believes this matter is without merit. Teva is the ANDA holder and front-end marketing partner for the generic product in the U.S.,” the Hyderabad-based drugmaker added.

Related:US: Celgene to pay Mylan $62M to resolve cancer drug antitrust case

As they brought patent challenges, these companies struck limited launch deals with BMS. Natco Pharma, for example, which gained FDA approval for its generic in May of last year, agreed to hold off its launch until this March. Then, in the first month, Natco and its U.S. marketing partner Arrow, will produce only a small amount—described as a mid-single-digit percentage of Revlimid’s monthly volume. Over time, that percentage increases, reaching 33% of Revlimid’s volume by March 2025. Then on January 31, 2026, the limitations end.

The settlements came after Revlimid’s former producer Celgene survived a patent challenge from Dr. Reddy’s. The decision allowed Celgene to extend its exclusivity and make advantageous deals with the generics makers that will help slow the erosion of Revlimid’s sales.