🎯 Novo Nordisk settles US patent fight with Viatris over Ozempic
On October 7, Novo Nordisk (NOVOb.CO) and Viatris (VTRS.O) announced that they have reached a settlement in a patent dispute concerning Novo’s blockbuster weight-loss medications, Ozempic and Wegovy. The companies informed a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) tribunal of the agreement.
In a joint filing with the USPTO's Patent Trial and Appeal Board on Friday, Novo Nordisk and Viatris' Mylan Pharmaceuticals revealed the resolution of the case. The board had been reviewing whether to invalidate a Novo patent related to the use of specific dosages of the drugs for treating type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Novo has also filed separate lawsuits against Viatris and other companies for patent infringement in federal court, aiming to block the introduction of generic versions of its drugs. Last Wednesday, Novo and Viatris informed a Delaware judge that they had settled Novo’s lawsuit against Viatris regarding its proposed generic version of Ozempic.
A Novo spokesperson confirmed the settlement on Monday, noting that the terms are confidential. Attorneys and representatives for Viatris have not yet responded to requests for comment or further details on the agreement.
Denmark-based Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy was the first in a new class of highly effective weight-loss medications to hit the market. Its surging sales have propelled Novo into becoming one of Europe’s most valuable companies, with analysts predicting the obesity treatment market could exceed $100 billion by the end of the decade.
Last year, Viatris contested the validity of several Novo patents related to Ozempic and Wegovy at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). In October, the USPTO agreed to review one of the patents after rejecting Viatris' requests to review two others.
