Indivior PLC (LON:INDV) has filed a petition for a rehearing in the US Court of Appeals in a case against a rival drugmaker selling a generic version of the company's best-selling opioid addition drug Suboxone.
Last month the US Court of Appeals decided to lift a preliminary injunction, which had been stopping Indian generics giant Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (DRL) from selling its copycat drug in the US.
READ: Indivior slumps as US court lifts injunction stopping rival from selling Suboxone copycat
Indivior said on Wednesday that the court has denied DRL’s petition to immediately lift the injunction, meaning the competitor will be unable to begin selling its generic buprenorphine-naloxone sublingual film yet.
Indivior will file a petition for rehearing by December. The court must rule on the petition before it can lift the injunction.
"We are pleased that the court has denied DRL's motion to immediately issue the mandate," said Indivior chief executive, Shaun Thaxter.
"We will continue to vigorously pursue our infringement cases against DRL to protect our Suboxone. (buprenorphine and naloxone) Sublingual Film patent portfolio."
Shares edged up 0.9% to 82.4p.
Analysts at RBC Capital said: "Ultimately, this is positive for Indivior as every month it can keep the generic off the market is equivalent to circa US$70mln in revenue (and US$63mln of gross profit) and this could see a delay to the launch of circa 1-3 months (or more in the event that Indivior is successful)."