Healthcare

GlaxoSmithKline has won approval for a patent for a vaccine to prevent a common respiratory virus affecting infants, beating out a challenge from a rival that has developed a competing vaccine.

Consumer goods giant Reckitt Benckiser is seeking more information after advertisements for rival AFT Pharmaceuticals' Maxigesic painkiller were found in-store and online despite the court ordering the removal of the misleading displays earlier this month.

A court has delivered a loss for Germany-based B. Braun Melsungen, dismissing its allegations that US-based device manufacturer Becton Dickinson infringed three of its intravenous catheter patents and ruling the patents invalid.

Drug maker Neurim Pharmaceuticals is battling to amend its Australian patent for the blockbuster sleeping pill Circadin over opposition from two generic pharmaceutical companies, which have accused Neurim of attempting to gain an unfair advantage by delaying the amendment bid until now.

AFT Pharmaceuticals has been ordered to pull advertisements for its painkiller Maxigesic after the Federal Court ruled in favour of rival Reckitt Benckiser, finding the ads breached Australian Consumer Law.

Medical device maker AMS has told the Federal Court that claims in a class action against it over allegedly defective pelvic mesh implants did not meet the standard for a representative proceeding.

The Commonwealth of Australia is weighing a bid to strike out Otsuka Pharmaceutical's defence as the government seeks lost subsidies after an almost seven-year long patent dispute over the antipsychotic drug, Abilify.

Generic drug maker Alphapharm says rival Sanofi-Aventis waited to amend its injector pen patent until the heated IP battle between the two firms had commenced, despite knowing about the amendments for three years.

A judge has approved a $2.5 million penalty against two hearing aid retailers in the consumer regulator's case alleging the companies targeted vulnerable pensioners with misleading newspaper ads.

Generic Health has shaved two percent off the $25 million damages awarded pharmaceutical giant Bayer in a patent infringement case over Bayer's blockbuster oral contraceptive, Yasmin, but the discount is a far cry from the 15 percent it sought on appeal.