Depomed, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company that commercializes products for pain and CNS disorders, announced Judge Joel A Pisano of the US District Court for the District of New Jersey has ruled in favour of Depomed in the company's patent litigation lawsuit against Actavis, Inc. related to Actavis's Abbreviated New Drug Application for generic versions of Depomed's Gralise (gabapentin) tablets for the management of postherpetic neuralgia.

Judge Pisano's ruling finds that Actavis infringes all seven Depomed patents asserted and upholds the validity of the patents.  The latest expiration of the infringed patents is February 2024.

"We are pleased with this decision, as it confirms the innovation of Gralise and the strength of our patents.  This ruling provides for nearly 10 years of additional market exclusivity," commented Jim Schoeneck, president and chief executive officer of Depomed.  "We look forward to providing Gralise to postherpetic neuralgia patients and their physicians well into the next decade."

Depomed previously announced settlements with two other Gralise ANDA filers providing for generic entry on January 1, 2024.