An article published by Bloomberg News on December 24 reported that drug maker Merck sued Actavis’ subsidiary Warner Chilcott in a federal court in Delaware over allegations that it attempted to sell a generic form of Merck’s NuvaRing before the expiration of its patent in 2018.

Actavis had confirmed that its seeks the approval of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market generic versions of Merck’s NuvaRing, a contraceptive ring with revenue of over $490 million through this year’s third quarter.

Actavis also stated that Merck’s lawsuit will freeze the marketing of NuvaRing’s generic versions for up to 30 months or until a legal decision has been made. If the approval is granted, the FDA will provide Actavis a 180-day generic drug exclusivity.

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Written by James H. Arenson

Last Updated : January 2, 2014