Attempt to force wet-AMD drug off the Australian market

Bayer’s Eylea drug was listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Sche in Decber and is in direct competition with Genentech-developed Lucentis, with Lucentis being licensed to Novartis in Australia.
Lucentis and Eylea have both been shown to be effective in treating patients with AMD, however Eylea comes at a lower cost and has been found to require fewer treatments, at least in the first year of use. Lower cost and less frequency of treatment of Eylea would now appear to render Eylea as many ophthalmologists’ first choice in the treatment of AMD.
Bayer initiated infringent action against Genentech last year in an effort to forestall patent action from the Lucentis originator. Genentech has responded to Bayer’s allegations with a cross-claim for infringent, ultimately seeking to have Eylea taken off the Australian market through a permanent injunction that would stop the company “importing into, marketing, supplying or offering to supply in Australia the medicine Eylea or any other therapeutic good for treating wet-form age-related macular degeneration”.
Insight contacted Bayer for comment, with the company stating: “Bayer Australia Ltd can confirm that Genentech is alleging an infringent of a patent regarding the administration of a VEGF antagonist.
“We believe that Bayer does not infringe any valid patent claim and the company intends to defend its products vigorously. Bayer is committed to ensuring its products are available and accessible to those patients in Australia who can benefit from th,” the company statent to Insight continued.
When contacted by Insight for comment, Roche had not responded at the time of going to press. In speaking to Novartis’ public relations department, Insight was informed that Novartis holds only the licence for Lucentis in Australia and is not privy to any court action that is driven by Roche/Genentech.
The case was continuing in the Federal Court at press time.