By: Clark G. Sullivan and Sujatha Vathyam, Troutman Sanders LLP
A pharmaceutical patent lawsuit against the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) earlier this year has clarified when 3-year Hatch-Waxman data exclusivity will prevent the United States Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) from approving an application filed under section 505(b)(2) of the Food Drug and Cosmetic Act (the “FD&C Act”). In the case, Veloxis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. v. FDA, a United States District Court held that reliance on an earlier approval was not necessary for three year data exclusivity to delay the later filed 505(b)(2) application. Exclusivity arose solely because the later application was for the same drug as the earlier approval and would be approved for the same conditions of use.