Bristol-Myers Squibb Co In Patent Suit Vs. Merck & Co., Inc. Over Skin Cancer Drug

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. BMY gained slightly Friday on news it brought a patent suit against Merck & Co., Inc. MRK related to a skin cancer drug.

Merck on Thursday won accelerated U.S. marketing approval for its Keytruda treatment for a common and deadly form of skin cancer. Bristol said the drug unlawfully exploits its May 20 immunotherapy patent.

Bristol-Myers, Roche Holding AG and Novartis AG are all at work on similar products. Bristol-Myers expects a decision from the Food and Drug Administration on its nivolumab skin cancer treatment in mid 2015.

The suit, filed Thursday in federal court in Wilmington, Delaware, is Bristol-Myers Squibb v. Merck & Co., 14-cv-01131, U.S. District Court, District of Delaware (Wilmington).

Bristol Myers closed at $51.12, up 1.1 percent.