By CHRIS COLETTA
Triangle Business Journal

Trimeris is the target of a patent-infringement suit over its AIDS drug Fuzeon, the company said in a regulatory filing Tuesday.

The Morrisville, N.C., biotech company says Swiss drugmaker Novartis has filed suit against Trimeris and its partner on Fuzeon, fellow Swiss drug company Roche. Novartis claims that Fuzeon infringes on an HIV-related patent, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission filing.

A check of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office shows that the patent in question is for an "antigenic composition comprising an HIV gag or env polypeptide"- in layman's terms, a way to stimulate the body's immune system to fight HIV. Novartis filed for the patent in 1995, but it wasn't granted until Oct. 23, according to the Patent Office.

Fuzeon was approved for U.S. sale in 2003. Novartis currently does not have an HIV drug on the market, according to Trimeris' filing.

Trimeris said it and Roche are currently reviewing a copy of the complaint, which was obtained from a third party. They said they will respond to the issues raised "in due course."