Amgen moves to block potential Zarxio launch

Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) filed a motion in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California seeking a preliminary injunction that would prevent the Sandoz unit of Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS; SIX:NOVN) from marketing Zarxio ( EP2006), a biosimilar of Amgen's Neupogen filgrastim, if FDA approves it as soon as next month.

On March 2, the court plans to hear Amgen's motion for a preliminary injunction, as well as both parties' motions for judgment on the pleadings. Zarxio's earliest potential launch date is March 8. Amgen contended that if the court rules in its favor, Zarxio's launch should be delayed until both parties are "placed in the position they would be in had Sandoz complied with the BPCIA." ...