Pharma firms in inhaler dispute

A major pharmaceutical company is seeking an injunction preventing the roll-out by a rival of an inhaler for asthmatics over alleged infringement of its trademark.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) says Rowex Ltd is preparing to launch a product similar in its packaging to Glaxo’s “Seretide” inhaler, which is the fourth highest-selling pharmaceutical product in the world, with more than €58bn in global sales .

The UK-based Glaxo Group, along with GSK (Ireland) Ltd, trading as Allen and Hanburys, is to apply next month for an injunction preventing Rowex, a member of the Rowa group of pharmaceutical companies, from proceeding with the launch of an inhaler called “AirFluSal”.