Ranbaxy wins patent case against Pfizer cholestrol drug Liptor in Germany

30 Oct 2007

1
Mumbai: Ranbaxy Laboratories, India''s top drug maker by sales, has secured a favourable verdict in its patent case against in its case against (Pfizer) Warner-Lambert''s European Patent 409 281 (281), invalidating all relevant claims of this patent.

The Federal Patent Court of Germany in Munich handed down a favorable decision for Ranbaxy, invalidating all relevant claims of the European patent 409 281 (281) of the cholesterol-lowering drug marketed by Pfizer as Lipitor.

The drug has annual sales of $137 million (TMS - MAT: June 2007), Ranbaxy said in a filing with the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

"This is an important milestone for Ranbaxy as it reinforces and validates yet again our position in relation to this patent," said Jay Deshmukh, senior vice president, global intellectual property for Ranbaxy Laboratories.

Ranbaxy Pharmacuticals, the US subsidiary of Ranbaxy Laboratories, meanwhile, received tentative approval from the US Food and Drug Administration to make and sell valsartan tablets in multiple strengths.

The tablets are used for the treatment of hypertension and heart failure, the company said in a statement. Total annual market sales for valsartan tablets were $1.3 billion, it said.

The FDA approval allows Ranbaxy to make four different dosages of valsartan tablets, which is also used to treat heart failure. Total annual market sales of valsartan were $1.3 billion.

"We believe we are first to file a substantially complete ANDA (abbreviated new drug application) and will stand to gain from the 180-day exclusivity available to the first filer," said Jim Meehan, vice president of sales and distribution for Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals.

Business History Videos

History of hovercraft Part 3...

Today I shall talk a bit more about the military plans for ...

By Kiron Kasbekar | Presenter: Kiron Kasbekar

History of hovercraft Part 2...

In this episode of our history of hovercraft, we shall exam...

By Kiron Kasbekar | Presenter: Kiron Kasbekar

History of Hovercraft Part 1...

If you’ve been a James Bond movie fan, you may recall seein...

By Kiron Kasbekar | Presenter: Kiron Kasbekar

History of Trams in India | ...

The video I am presenting to you is based on a script writt...

By Aniket Gupta | Presenter: Sheetal Gaikwad

view more