BASF Sues MANA, Cheminova Over Fipronil

NEW YORK — BASF SE has sued rival chemical manufacturers Makhteshim Agan North America and Denmark-based Cheminova over patent infringement for fipronil, reports Reuters. Both company’s were preparing to sell generic versions of the insecticide, which is scheduled to go off-patent in August this year. BASF says it has another set of patents related to the manufacturing process. These patents prevent a competitor from marketing a generic version of the pesticide.

Bayer CropScience, which originally manufactured fipronil and kept some patent rights after BASF purchased the business in 2003, has joined BASF in the lawsuits.

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Fipronil is used for control of insects that attack potato crops, as well as for residential use on termites.
 

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