Allergan, Inc., and Alcon, Inc., recently announced a license settlement to end Allergan’s initial lawsuit against Alcon alleging infringement of two of its patents related to brimonidine. This license allows Alcon to sell its 0.15% brimonidine product beginning on September 30, 2009, and royalties will also be due to Allergan at that time. This license agreement grants Alcon rights to U.S. Patent Nos. 6,641,834 and 6,673,337 (both entitled “Compositions containing alpha-2-adrenergic agonist components”). The patents stated that the compositions disclosed “contain certain materials which are effective in at least aiding or assisting in solubilizing the alpha-2-adrenergic agonist components in the compositions, and preferably in environments to which the compositions are administered or introduced, for example, biological environments, such as the human eye.” Allergan currently markets two brimonidine products (Alphagan® P 0.15% and Alphagan® 0.2%) to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with ocular hypertension or open-angle glaucoma.

U.S. Patent No. 6,641,834: LINK
U.S. Patent No. 6,673,337: LINK
Allergan Press Release: LINK
Alphagan® P 0.15% Product Page: LINK