PURDUE SETTLES PATENT SUITS WITH ENDO, TEVA

Purdue Pharma and Endo Pharmaceuticals have agreed to end the patent infringement lawsuit between them now pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York concerning certain Purdue patents on OxyContin (oxycodone HCl controlled-release) Tablets. According to the agreement, Endo will stop selling its versions of OxyContin by the end of 2006. In exchange, Purdue will not pursue damages against Endo for its past infringement on OxyContin patents.

Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Endo will no longer dispute that the Purdue Pharma OxyContin patents are valid, enforceable and infringed on by Endo's product. The parties also have agreed to propose to the court a consent judgment holding that Endo is infringing on Purdue patents and prohibiting Endo from infringing on sales after Dec. 31.