Pfizer Lipitor patents upheld

Pfizer has announced that a court has upheld two of its patents covering atovastatin, the active ingredient in Lipitor.

The eastern division of the high court in Copenhagen, Denmark, ruled in the firm’s favour in response to challenges to the basic DK 171,588 patent and enantiomer EP 409,281 patents from generic pharmaceuticals manufacturer Ranbaxy.

It ruled that Ranbaxy’s generic atorvastatin product would infringe the basic patent for Lipitor, which is not due to expire until November 2011.

The court added added the enantiomer patent which expires in July 2010 was also deemed to be valid.

As a result of the court’s decision, Ranbaxy will be prevented from launching its generic formulation of atorvastatin prior to November 2011, though this ruling is subject to a possible appeal.

Karin, Verland, Denmark country manager at Pfizer, said: “Today’s decision is an important outcome for Pfizer and other medical innovators who invest in high-risk research to develop life-saving medicines for millions of patients.”

In July 2008, Pfizer announced the results of an observational study which found patients are more likely to stay on Lipitor than simvastatin.

These results were published in the Current Medical Research and Opinion journal.