Fighting generic competition: Strategies for research-based companies

Multinational companies have a number of options available to them to protect their patent exclusivity and intellectual property in the face of patent expirations. These strategies and tactics have traditionally included litigation, pricing, reformulation, new isomeric forms, changing the manufacturing process or releasing generics under subsidiary names. Research and development-based pharmaceutical companies have adopted aggressive litigation approaches to protect their patents. This white paper from URCH Publishing Ltd. discusses the pros and cons of litigation and other approaches.

One pharma company, AstraZeneca, fought more than 50 patent infringement cases during a five-year period  in a range of markets. As a defensive strategy, the white paper states, litigation must be seen as a short-term measure that provides no long-term security for innovators.

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