Pfizer wins UK Lipitor patent battle

Pfizer has successfully defended a patent battle for Lipitor (atorvastatin), the world’s largest-selling drug, from Indian generics manufacturer Ranbaxy Laboratories in UK courts.

Ranbaxy has challenged Pfizer’s patents for the statin Lipitor in a number of countries, although the UK’s Court of Appeal rejected Ranbaxy’s claim to the Lipitor patent, which will remain in force until November 2011, until which time Ranbaxy will be prohibited from producing generic atorvastatin.

Pfizer vice-chairman and general council, Jeffrey B Kindler, remarked: “We are pleased with appellate court decision, which affirms the lower court ruling on our basic patent for Lipitor.”

“This decision is consistent with the fundamental principle that patents exist to support the work of medical innovators pursuing discoveries that benefit current and future generations of patients around the world,” he added.

Pfizer did however lose the patent for the calcium salt of atorvastatin, which was due to expire in 2010. However, the world’s largest pharmaceutical company said that this patent has “no commercial relevance in the UK”.

In May, David Shedlarz, another Pfizer vice-chairman, said that Lipitor sales would not necessarily “fall off a cliff”, according to Reuters.

Beforehand, Pfizer lost a patent challenge from Ranbaxy in Austria over the active ingredient of Lipitor. Although the Lipitor patent itself remains valid in Austria until 2011, Ranbaxy will be able to sell drugs containing atorvastatin.

Pfizer has said it will “vigorously contest” Lipitor patent challenges and all companies “seeking to undermine Pfizer’s mission of creating value for patients and investors through biomedical invention”.

© Adfero Ltd