Teva Pharmaceutical Industries said late last week that it could launch a copycat version of GlaxoSmithKline’s epilepsy/bipolar disorder treatment, Lamictal (lamotrigine), later this year, after settling patent litigation with the UK drug giant.

Under the terms of the settlement, the generics manufacturer said that it would be able to sell a version of Lamictal chewable tablets at 5mg and 25mg doses under an exclusive license from GSK no later than June 2005. Teva will pay a royalty to GSK on its generic Lamictal sales.

In addition, Teva said it was granted the exclusive right to manufacture and sell its own version of the drug in the 25mg, 100mg, 150mg, and 200mg doses in the USA, and was expecting a launch to take place in 2008.

Lamictal brought in sales of some £678 million pounds in 2004 – up 32% [[11/02/05a]] – with US sales comprising around £435 million.