GlaxoSmithKlines patents on Augmentin, the world's biggest-selling antibiotic, are being challenged in the US courts by a Swiss generics company, reports the Financial Times without citing sources.
The pharmaceutical giant employs about 800 people in manufacturing, research and sales in the Irish market.
Geneva Pharmaceuticals, a unit of Novartis, is seeking a court order to invalidate four patents on Augmentin that would extend the antibiotic's monopoly until 2017.Augmentin, GSK's most important drug after anti-depressant Seroxat, had sales of £1.2bln sterling last year.
