GERMANY'S SCHWARZ TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST ISRAEL'S TEVA

Following a decision by a US court in New Jersey, Germany's Schwarz Pharma is to seek damages relating to its Univasc heart drug from Israeli generics major Teva. The case was originally filed in 2001, upon the Israeli company's application for a US patent for its alleged copy of the drug.

Company sources have claimed that Schwarz's US revenue from Univasc declined to some US$10mn last year, compared to US$46mn in 2002, prior to Teva's launch of its drug in March 2003. Industry observers have estimated potential damages from the suit at up to US$150mn, assuming three years' lost sales are proved, although a consensus figure of roughly US$20mn appears substantially more realistic.