[e-drug] Pfizer obtains injunction against Cadila on Penegra

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E-drug: Pfizer obtains injunction against Cadila on Penegra
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http://www.economictimes.com/today/13comp02.htm

Economic Times
Gauri Kamath
MUMBAI

AMERICAN drug firm Pfizer has obtained an ex-parte injunction from the
Delhi High Court restraining Ahmedabad-based drug firm Zydus Cadila
Healthcare from using the trademark 'Penegra' for an impotence drug that
uses the same ingredient as Pfizer's high-profile Viagra.

The Delhi High Court restrained Cadila Healthcare from using any other
trademark that was deceptively or confusingly similar to Viagra and also
using the 'blue, diamond-shape' characteristic of Pfizer's pill, an
industry source said. Pfizer's Viagra is a registered trademark in India
though the drug has not been launched here by Pfizer.

<snip>

Though Pfizer does not sell Viagra in India, several legitimate
knock-offs of the drug have flooded the market since the drugs
controller general of India approved it for use here about six months
back.

This has been made possible by India's patent laws which allow firms to
manufacture drugs patented elsewhere in the world by a different
process.

<snip>

This is not the first time Pfizer has moved to protect its trademark on
Viagra which has raked in worldwide sales of over $1 billion. In year
2000, the company had sued a Chinese company for registering "Viagra" as
an internet domain name. It has also not been enthusiastic about
launching the drug in India because of stiff, and cheaper, competition.

<snip>

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