Russia’s Akselpharm defends its patent for osimertinib, sparking AstraZeneca criticism

The Russian drugmaker Akselpharm has successfully defended its patent for osimertinib the active ingredient of UK pharma major AstraZeneca’s (LSE: ANZN) in the Russian court, reports The Pharma Letter’s local correspondent.

This drug is used to treat lung cancer. AstraZeneca, which holds the patent for Tagrisso, attempted to challenge the legal protection.

The Presidium of the Russian Intellectual Property Rights Court (IPC) has reinstated the Eurasian patent of Akselpharm for the crystalline form of osimertinib. This dispute is part of a long-term battle between Akselpharm and the British company. AstraZeneca manufactures the original osimertinib-based drug Tagrisso at its Russian site.