Two weeks after receiving a new patent on its pancreatic cancer treatment Onivyde, Ipsen has filed another lawsuit against a potential competitor.
Ipsen argued on Friday that Conjupro Biotherapeutics’ application to market an irinotecan liposome injection product would infringe on its patent, known as No. 12,059,497, granted on Aug. 13. Conjupro is a New Jersey-based subsidiary of CSPC Group, which is located in Hong Kong.
Irinotecan has been approved to fight cancer for decades. Ipsen’s version — acquired from Merrimack Pharmaceuticals in 2017 — is delivered in fat particles called liposomes, which accumulate in the tumor and release over time. It was first approved in 2015 as Onivyde to treat advanced pancreatic cancer, and generated $183 million (€164 million) for Ipsen in 2023.
Ipsen said its ‘497 patent covers the composition of Onivyde and alleged that Conjupro would infringe the patent by marketing its proposed product, causing “foreseeable harm and injury.” Ipsen markets Onivyde in the US, while PharmaEngine is responsible for commercialization in Taiwan, and Servier has the rights outside of the US and Taiwan.
The lawsuit follows another complaint filed by Ipsen against Conjupro in April, asserting several other patents covering Onivyde, the latest of which expire in 2033.
Conjupro and CSPC were not immediately available for comment.