Roche sues Dr Reddy's in US over generic bone drug

ZURICH, Sept 25 (Reuters) Swiss drugmaker Roche Holding AG said on Tuesday it was taking legal action in the United States against Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd to stop it selling a generic version of Roche's osteoporosis drug Boniva.

Roche has filed a complaint against Dr. Reddy's in a New Jersey court after the Indian company notified Roche of its intention to launch a generic product, spokeswoman Martina Rupp said.

Roche says Boniva, which is sold as Bonviva in Europe, is covered by patents running from 2012 to 2023.

''This action arises because of Dr. Reddy's efforts to gain approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration to market a generic copy of Roche's Boniva once-monthly drug product prior to the expiration of Roche's patent rights covering it,'' Roche said in the filing, which is dated Sept. 20.

Roche booked Boniva sales of 488 million Swiss francs (7 million) in 2006.

The Swiss company is also suing Israel's Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. in the United States to prevent sales of a generic version of Boniva.

REUTERS MP DS1602