We knew the lawsuit was coming, and it’s going to be quite a dogfight.

Thalidomide, which Celgene markets for multiple myeloma and leprosy complications, is a huge product for the hot biotech. Known commercially as Thalomid, sales totalled $108 million in the third quarter, a 9.3 percent increase. That amounted to 44 percent of the company’s $245 million in revenue.

Barr Pharmaceuticals, which is one of biggest and most aggressive generic companies, is seeking FDA approval to manufacture generic versions of the 100 mg and 50 mg doses.

At the time that Barr made its move last month, Celgene said its patents on a drug-delivery method integral to thalidomide’s approval don’t expire until 2018 and 2020. By meeting the Jan. 19 deadline to file suit, Celgene looks for a 30-month injunction against Barr’s proposed marketing of generic thalidomide.

[tags]Barr, Celgene, Patent Infringement, Thalidomid[/tags]