Judge To Issue Ruling In Generic Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ranbaxy Laboratories Lipitor Case Next Week

WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- A federal judge will decide early next week whether to end Mylan Inc.'s (MYL) legal maneuvering aimed at improving the chance it could sell a generic version of Pfizer Inc.'s (PFE) blockbuster cholesterol- lowering drug Lipitor as early as June.

Mylan has asked a federal court to force the Food and Drug Administration to make decisions that would favor its plans to produce a cheaper alternative for Lipitor, the top-selling drug in the world.

Mylan and Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. (500359.BY) have applied to sell generic Lipitor once Pfizer's exclusive right to sell the drug expires. A third company- -Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc. (WPI)--has already reached a deal with Pfizer to be the "authorized generic" seller starting in November.