Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc. is seeking Food and Drug Administration approval to sell a generic version of GlaxoSmithKline's enlarged-prostate treatment Avodart, the drugmaker said Monday.
Watson said GlaxoSmithKline, a British drugmaker, filed a lawsuit against Watson on Friday in U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware seeking to stop the move. The lawsuit will result in a stay of the FDA's final approval of Watson's application until Nov. 17, 2013, or a resolution of the case in court.
Avodart had U.S. sales of about $580 million in the 12 months that ended April 30, Watson said.
Watson shares climbed 86 cents to $64.39 Monday, and U.S.-traded shares of GlaxoSmithKline rose 13 cents to $41.49.