Novartis ‘defends intellectual property rights’ on Lotrel

Novartis has announced that it has undertaken legal actions in order to defend its intellectual property rights for its single-tablet orally administered treatment for high blood pressure, Lotrel.

The company has obtained an extended restraining order until May 29th 2007 to prevent rival firm Teva Pharmaceuticals shipping a generic form of this compound, though the judge has permitted the sales of these generics that were delivered before the court order was issued.

In addition to this ruling, US District Court judge Dennis M Cavanaugh has ruled that Novartis is not permitted to launch what it terms an “authorised generic” version of Lotrel until the next hearing in this case.

“Novartis will continue to vigorously defend its intellectual property rights, including the validity of the Lotrel patent, against any generic challengers,” the company reports.

It adds that its patent on Lotrel is valid until December 2017, while the firm is currently investigating the impact of sales of generic formulations of the drug by Teva on its revenue figures for the 2007 fiscal year.

Last year, Novartis reported that hypertension drugs Lotrel and Diovan were the top products rated by sales in their therapeutic categories during the first half of 2006.