Neurocrine announces four companies can market generic forms of Ingrezza

Neurocrine Biosciences has announced the resolution of litigation resulting from abbreviated new drug applications brought by companies that wished to market a generic version of Ingrezza before its patent expires.

According to a release from Neurocrine, four companies gained the right to sell generic versions of Ingrezza (valbenazine) in the United States beginning March 1, 2038, or earlier under certain customary circumstances.

“These settlements reinforce our belief in the strength of the Ingrezza intellectual property estate and provide clarity regarding Ingrezza exclusivity,” Darin Lippoldt, chief legal officer of Neurocrine Biosciences, said in the release. “As an innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company, we will continue to develop treatments for under-addressed diseases and rely on a robust patent system to protect that investment in innovation.”

In August, the FDA approved valbenazine, a selective vesicular monoamine transporter 2 inhibitor, in once-daily capsule form to treat adults with chorea associated with Huntington’s disease. The following month, the FDA accepted a new drug application for the drug in 40 mg, 60 mg and 80 mg formulations for those with tardive dyskinesia or Huntington’s chorea.