Sanofi and Eli Lilly Enter Into Settlement Agreement on Lantus SoloStar

Sanofi, the French drugmaker settled a lawsuit over patents for Lantus SoloStar, its once-daily insulin in a pen-like injector on September 28. Sanofi's Lantus is a less expensive version of the world's top selling insulin that could go on sale in the US late next year.

The agreement resolves a U.S. patent infringement lawsuit regarding Lilly's pursuit of regulatory approval for a product that would compete with Lantus SoloSTAR. Sanofi and Lilly agreed to end that lawsuit and to discontinue similar disputes worldwide.

Under the agreement, Lilly will pay royalties to Sanofi in exchange for a license to certain Sanofi patents. In the U.S., Lilly will not sell its insulin glargine product before December 15, 2016. The agreement does not include Lantus, Toujeo� or combination products. The remaining settlement terms are confidential.

Sanofi will continue its commitment to develop and deliver innovations for the more than 387 million people globally living with diabetes.

People with diabetes either do not produce enough insulin, which helps convert sugar from food into energy, or their body does not properly use insulin.

About 95 percent of the estimated 29 million Americans and 387 million people worldwide with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes, which is often linked to obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. Type 1 diabetes, often called insulin-dependent diabetes, typically is diagnosed in childhood or adolescence, while Type 2 diabetes typically strikes in middle age.

Worldwide, the market for Type 2 diabetes treatments was $23.5 billion last year and is forecast to rise to $39 billion by 2021, according to GlobalData.

Source: Medindia