Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY), the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, announces that it has received a Paragraph IV Notice Letter from Anchen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Anchen") advising of the filing of an Abbreviated New Drug Application ("ANDA") for a generic version of Shire's 1 mg, 2 mg, 3 mg, and 4 mg guanfacine hydrochloride extended release tablets, INTUNIV(TM). Shire had previously reported in March 2010 of the receipt of a Paragraph IV Letter from Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. and in early April 2010 of a Paragraph IV Letter from Actavis Elizabeth LLC, both regarding ANDAs for generic versions of Shire's 1 mg, 2 mg, 3 mg, and 4 mg guanfacine hydrochloride extended release tablets.
INTUNIV is protected by three FDA Orange Book listed patents: U.S. Patent No. 5,854,290 ("the '290 patent") titled Use of Guanfacine in the Treatment of Behavioral Disorders; U.S. Patent No. 6,287,599 ("the '599 patent") and U.S. Patent No. 6,811,794 ("the '794 patent") both titled Sustained Release Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms with Minimized pH Dependent Dissolution Profiles. The three patents expire in 2015, 2020 and 2022, respectfully.
Shire is currently reviewing the details of Anchen's Paragraph IV Notice Letter which was directed to the '290, '599 and '794 patents.
The Hatch-Waxman exclusivity period for INTUNIV runs until September 2, 2012 therefore, ANDA for generic versions of INTUNIV cannot be approved prior to the end of that exclusivity period.
Under the Hatch-Waxman Act, Shire has 45 days from the receipt of the Notice Letter to determine if it will file a patent infringement suit. If Shire brings suit pursuant to the Hatch Waxman regulations, a stay of approval of up to 30-months will be imposed by the FDA on Anchen's ANDA.
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