Hospira Inc.'s (HSP) plans to launch a generic version of the Sanofi-Aventis SA (SNY) colon-cancer drug Eloxatin in the U.S. have been put on hold due to a legal challenge from Sanofi.

Hospira disclosed the delay in a regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission late Friday, only days after it announced Food and Drug Administration approval to launch the injectable drug, known generically as oxaliplatin.

The company also disclosed a warning letter from the FDA relating to problems with power cords used on drug infusion pumps, which it recalled. But it said neither the drug delay or power cord issue should hurt its ability to reach recently announced 2009 financial goals, which include a raised full-year earnings projection.

Morgan Stanley analyst Marshall Urist called the drug delay "a modest negative for the stock," but he estimated that resolution could come in "weeks."

On Tuesday last week, Hospira said it was launching generic oxaliplatin domestically, and that it had one of the first generic versions of the drug in solution form. Hospira noted that the drug racked up about $1.4 billion in U.S. sales for Sanofi last year.

Three days later, Hospira said it received notice from the FDA that the company's oxaliplatin application was suspended due to "legal proceedings initiated by the innovator company against the FDA" and a court order issued in that proceeding.

The suspension is temporary until the court has a chance to consider arguments on the matter that will be filed by Tuesday, Hospira said. It added that the issue doesn't relate to any issues regarding the drug's safety or effectiveness.

The drug is a treatment for patients with stage III colon cancer and advanced colorectal cancer.

-By Jon Kamp, Dow Jones Newswires; 617-654-6728; jon.kamp@dowjones.com