Elan takes action against US firm

ELAN has taken legal action against a US company over its alleged misuse of a drug patent currently owned by the Irish pharmaceutical firm.

Elan filed its complaint against US company Alcon Laboratories in Texas late last week and is looking for damages, legal fees and an injunction to be placed on Alcon’s use of its technology.

The potential court case surrounds two patents which Alcon obtained from NanoSystems — the drug delivery arm of Eastman Kodak, which Elan acquired in 1998.