US court asks Dr Reddy's Laboratories to halt generic sale of esomeprazole

Hyderabad: A US court has directed Dr Reddy's Laboratories to temporarily stop selling its generic version of esomeprazole in the US market.

According to a statement from the company, the US District Court of Delaware issued the order based on a motion moved by AstraZeneca objecting to the usage of the colour purple in the generic version.

"The order has been passed pending further hearing of trial. The court has asked the parties to propose the next course of action and submit the same to the court. The court shall conduct a telephonic status conference on Thursday, November 12, 2015," the drugmaker said in the statement.

The company is complying with the court's order and simultaneously evaluating all possible options to resolve the matter at the earliest, it further said.

DRL launched the generic version of AstraZeneca's Nexium, used to treat acid reflux, in the US market on September 25.

Nexium and the generic had US sales of approximately USD 5.2 billion for the 12 months ended July 2015.