Drug company accuses Mylan of patent infringement

WHEELING – A drug manufacturer alleges a rival company infringed on its patent copyright.

Acorda Therapeutics and Alkermes Pharma Ireland filed a lawsuit Aug. 22 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia against Mylan Pharmaceuticals of Canonsburg, Pa.

Acorda and Alkermes allege they developed Ampyra, a drug used to treat multiple sclerosis. The medication is intended to improve walking in patients with the disease, according to the complaint.

Mylan Pharmaceuticals later developed a generic version of the drug, infringing on Acorda's and Alkermes' patents, the suit states.

In their complaint, the plaintiffs allege infringement of their patents. They seek a judgment that Mylan infringed on their patents, plus a permanent injunction preventing Mylan from selling generic tablets. They also seek attorney fees, costs and other relief the court deems just.

James F. Companion and Yolanda G. Lambert of Schrader, Byrd and Companion in Wheeling; Aaron Stiefel, Daniel P. DiNapoli, Benjamin C. Hsing and Soumitra Deka of Kaye Scholer in New York; Sylvia M. Becker of Kaye Scholer in Washington, D.C.; Jack B. Blumenfeld and Maryellen Noreika of Morris, Nichols, Arsht and Tunnell in Wilmington; and Anthony Michael of Acorda Therapeutics in Ardsley will represent them.

U.S. District Court West Virginia Northern District case number 1:14-cv-139