Spanish Court Rules in Pfizer's Favor on Lipitor Patent Challenge
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"Another Important Ruling in Favor of Medical Innovation"
NEW YORK, Dec. 21 -- Pfizer Inc announced today that a Spanish court is the
latest judicial body to uphold the company's patents covering the active
ingredient in Lipitor, the world's most-prescribed cholesterol-lowering
medication.
Pfizer said the Court of First Instance in Madrid has ruled that the
claims of Pfizer's patent covering atorvastatin are valid and enforceable.
The company was defending a lawsuit brought by Ratiopharm Espana S.A.
(Ratiopharm), which can appeal the decision. The patent at issue in the
lawsuit (EP 409,281) expires in July 2010 and is subject to other pending
challenges in Spain. Lipitor is sold in Spain under the brand names Zarator
and Cardyl.
Pfizer Vice Chairman and General Counsel Jeffrey B. Kindler commented:
"The Spanish court decision is important for Pfizer and other medical
innovators who invest in high-risk research to develop life-saving medicines
for millions of patients."
Pfizer also has won major Lipitor patent challenges recently over generic
manufacturer Ranbaxy Ltd. both in the United States, on December 16, and in
the United Kingdom on October 12. In addition, Pfizer received a favorable
patent decision against Ranbaxy in Norway on November 9. Further, Pfizer
received on December 16 a favorable ruling upholding the validity of its
crystalline form atorvastatin patent in Peru where Ranbaxy has been enjoined
from selling its product.
In another ruling this week, the Andean Court of Justice in Quito, Ecuador
ruled that a challenge to the patentability of Pfizer's Venezuelan Lipitor
patents covering the crystalline form of atorvastatin and a process for making
atorvastatin were without foundation and dismissed the case. The Andean court
decision protects Pfizer's Lipitor patents in Peru, Ecuador and Venezuela from
any future challenges under Andean Pact law and is not appealable.
SOURCE Pfizer Inc
-0- 12/21/2005
/CONTACT: Bryant Haskins, +1-212-733-8719, for Pfizer Inc/
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(PFE)
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© 2005 PR Newswire
