Bausch Health Cos. Inc. sued Novartis AG unit Sandoz Inc. for allegedly violating the patents covering its gastrointestinal drug Xifaxan.
Sandoz is looking to sell a generic version of Xifaxan in the U.S., but Canada's Bausch says the company's application allegedly infringes 14 patents related to Xifaxan 550-milligram tablets. Bausch is joined by its unit Salix Pharmaceuticals, along with Salix's licensor Alfasigma SpA, in the patent infringement lawsuit.
Xifaxan is used to treat irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea.
A similar lawsuit by Bausch against Actavis Laboratories FL Inc. was resolved in September 2018 after the latter agreed to sell its generic medicine after Jan. 1, 2028.
