Novartis patent case: Delhi HC refuses interim relief to Cipla

The court had earlier barred Cipla from selling cheaper generic of Novartis' respiratory drug Onbrez

In another disappointment for Mumbai- based drug maker Cipla, Delhi High Court division bench has refused to give any interim relief to the company against a recent order by Delhi High Court barring the company to sell cheaper generic of Novartis’ respiratory drug Onbrez.

“The court will hear the arguments on February 5 and on that date it will decide whether the stay will be vacated or not. The court has admitted our appeal today,” Cipla said in a statement to Business Standard’s email query. The development comes on the heels of Cipla filing an appeal against a January 9 order by judge Manmohan Singh barring Cipla to manufacture and sell cheaper copycat version of Onbrez. However, Cipla will be allowed to sell the remaining stock.

On Wednesday, the Cipla scrip closed at Rs 631.1 down by 0.8 per cent while shares of Novartis closed down by about two per cent at Rs 660.3 on the BSE.