Friday, December 14, 2007

Watson Confirms Patent Litigation With Barr Related to Seasonale

CORONA, Calif., December 14, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. , a leading specialty pharmaceutical company, confirmed today that Duramed Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc., has filed a patent lawsuit against Watson and certain of its subsidiaries related to Quasense(TM) (levonorgestrel/ethinyl estradiol tablets USP), Watson's generic version of Seasonale(R), an extended cycle oral contraceptive. The lawsuit asserts that Watson's Quasense(TM) product infringes Duramed's U.S. Patent 5,895,032 ('032).

We fully intend to continue to market Quasense(TM), our generic version of Seasonale(R) and will defend this case vigorously," commented Paul Bisaro, Watson's President and Chief Executive Officer.

Watson launched its Quasense(TM) product in September 2006 following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's final approval of its abbreviated new drug application. On September 25, 2007, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) issued to Duramed U.S. Patent No. RE39,861 (the '861 Patent) related to Seasonale(R). On December 13, 2007, Barr filed suit against Watson in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey alleging infringement of the '861 Patent seeking to prevent Watson from further commercializing its Quasense(TM) product.

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