LONDON (dpa-AFX) - AstraZeneca (AZN, AZN.L) announced that the High Court in the UK has rendered its opinion on the formulation patent protecting SEROQUEL XR prolonged-release tablets currently pending in the UK court.

The court found the formulation patent protecting SEROQUEL XR to be invalid. The patent was challenged by Accord Healthcare Limited, Intas Pharmaceuticals Limited, Hexal AG and Sandoz Limited, Teva UK Limited, and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited.

AstraZeneca said it is disappointed with the court's decision. However, the company remains committed to defending its intellectual property protecting SEROQUEL XR.

The company is also engaged in numerous other proceedings regarding SEROQUEL XR related patents and regulatory exclusivity for SEROQUEL XR. In addition to the UK and the Netherlands, trials have concluded in the US and in Spain, and decisions are pending in those jurisdictions.

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