LOS ANGELES, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Gilead Sciences Inc <GILD.O> said on Friday it has been notified that Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd <TEVA.O> is seeking U.S. regulatory approval to sell a generic version of Gilead's HIV drug Truvada. Gilead said it has 45 days from the receipt of the notification by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to commence a patent infringement lawsuit against Teva. A lawsuit would restrict approval of the generic drug for up to 30 months or until a court ruling in favor of Teva, whichever occurs first. Truvada is a combination of Gilead's drugs Viread, known generically as tenofovir, and Emtriva, or emtricitabine. Gilead said Teva has claimed that two of the patents associated with emtricitabine -- owned by Emory University and licensed Gilead -- are invalid or unenforceable. The company said Truvada is protected by 10 patents, and all 10 would need to be invalidated or expired before a generic version of Truvada could be marketed. (Reporting by Deena Beasley; editing by Richard Chang)
A laboratory technician examines blood samples for HIV/AIDS in a public hospital in Valparaiso city, about 75 miles (120 km) northwest of Santiago, November 14, 2008. Chile's public health system is ...
