Teva has entered into two agreements with AstraZeneca to settle patent litigation regarding Teva’s US generic versions of AstraZeneca’s Prilosec (omeprazole) and Nexium (esomeprazole), including all claims for patent infringement and damages.
Under the terms of the omeprazole agreement, Teva will obtain a release for all past sales of its generic omeprazole and will continue to market its product in the US and will make a one-time payment to AstraZeneca.
As part of the esomeprazole agreement, AstraZeneca has granted Teva a license, subject to regulatory approval, to enter the US market with its generic esomeprazole delayed-release capsules on May 27, 2014, or earlier in certain circumstances.
Prilosec is a over the counter drug, which is strong enough to fight heartburn before it begins since it is a PPI (proton pump inhibitor), clinically proven to block heartburn for 24 hours.
Nexium is prescribed to treat the symptoms of acid reflux disease, which typically include persistent heartburn on two or more days per week, despite treatment and change of diet.