HC rejects BMS’ plea on sale of hepatitis B generic by Ranbaxy

The Delhi High Court (HC) has turned down Bristol-Myers Squibb’s (BMS) request to temporarily stop Ranbaxy from selling its generic version of the American firm’s patented hepatitis B drug Baraclude in India.

The court rejected the plea for an interim injunction, which means Ranbaxy can continue to sell its drug in India. The court will now go to a trial stage, which is a long drawn process, to verify the validity of BMS’ patent for Entecavir (Baraclude) and whether Ranbaxy’s generic version infringes on it.

Hepatitis Pharmaceutical Drugs Development Halted Due to Side Effects

Shares of Idenix Pharmaceuticals took a tumble this week, after regulators decided to halt the further development of its two new medications, due to side effects discovered during clinical trials.

The FDA made the decision after three cases of liver side effects were reported, after patients had taken IDX 184 and IDX 120, two experimental prescription drugs. The reported liver effects were not serious, however, and volunteer patients regained normal liver function after ceasing the medication.

Hepatitis C drug break-through

Scientists at the Welsh School of Pharmacy say the first human clinical trials on a new drug to treat infections caused by the Hepatitis C virus have been successful.

Researchers say the new medication could now become an approved treatment.

300,000 people suffer from Hepatitis C in the UK - across the world 300 million people are affected.

It is a virus that predominantly infects the cells of the liver.