Healthcare Industry News: Ranbaxy Laboratories
News Release - May 29, 2007
Ranbaxy Successfully Challenges Atorvastatin Patents in Norway
Rulings in Favor of Ranbaxy on All Four Patents Will Support the Launch of Atorvastatin in NorwayGURGAON, India, LONDON, and PRINCETON, N.J., May 29 (HSMN NewsFeed) -- Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited (RLL) announced that the Norwegian Appeals Court today handed down a favorable decision for Ranbaxy in its case against Pfizer, involving key Norwegian patents on Atorvastatin in Norway. Atorvastatin is a cholesterol-lowering drug which is marketed by Pfizer as Lipitor®.
The Oslo City Court had previously sided with Ranbaxy by finding non- infringement of two of Pfizer's Norwegian patents (No. 177,566 and No. 180,199) covering particular intermediate compounds. It had, however, denied Ranbaxy's assertion of non-infringement on Pfizer's Norwegian patent (No. 177,706) also covering particular intermediate compound, which was then appealed by Ranbaxy. In today's decision, the appeal court upheld the city court ruling on the '566 and the '199 patent but overturned the adverse ruling on the '706 patent.
The Norwegian Appeals Court also found Pfizer Norwegian process patent (No. 309,322) relating to a process for manufacturing amorphous Atorvastatin to be invalid. This patent had been earlier revoked by the EPO. The decision will now allow Ranbaxy to market Atorvastatin Tablets in Norway.
"This is a most important decision for Ranbaxy as it completely validates our position in relation to the Atorvastatin patents," said Jay Deshmukh, Senior Vice President, Global Intellectual Property for RLL. He further added, "This decision will allow Ranbaxy to market an affordable, generic dosage form of Atorvastatin that will be of benefit to Norwegian patients."
Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited, headquartered in India, is an integrated, research based, international pharmaceutical company producing a wide range of quality, affordable generic medicines, trusted by healthcare professionals and patients across geographies. Ranbaxy's continued focus on R&D has resulted in several approvals in developed markets and significant progress in New Drug Discovery Research. The Company's foray into Novel Drug Delivery Systems has led to proprietary "platform technologies," resulting in a number of products under development. The Company is serving its customers in over 125 countries and has an expanding international portfolio of affiliates, joint ventures and alliances, ground operations in 49 countries and manufacturing operations in 11 countries.
Source: Ranbaxy Laboratories
Issuer of this News Release is solely responsible for its
content.
Please address inquiries directly to the issuing company.
