Allergan Inc. said on Wednesday a federal court granted the Irvine drug maker a temporary restraining order against a Canadian rival seeking to sell a generic version of its treatment for itchy eyes.
The restraining order, against Ontario’s Apotex Inc. and two related companies, was issued late last month.
For now, the move prevents Apotex and Novex Pharma from making or selling a generic version of Allergan’s Acular 0.5% solution.
Allergan sued Apotex for patent infringement in 2003. A year later, a federal court ruled in favor of Allergan in the dispute.
An appeals court upheld the decision but sent one claim to a district court. Allergan said there is a “strong likelihood” it could prevail in the last claim.
