Eli Lilly and Sanofi have agreed terms in a patent dispute revolving around insulin glargine which will ward off the launch of a biosimilar to Sanofi’s Lantus brand until the end of next year.
The settlement relates to patents covering Sanofi’s Lantus SoloSTAR formulation of the basal insulin, a pen injector version which accounts for almost two-thirds of Lantus $7bn total sales. It does not cover insulin glargine sold in vials or combination products.
Under the terms of the agreement Lilly has agreed to pay royalties to Sanofi in exchange for a patent license from Sanofi, and has agreed to hold off on launching its own pen-based insulin glargine product Basaglar – partnered with Boehringer Ingelheim – until December 15, 2016.
