Appeals Court Upholds Preliminary Injunction Against TEVA Pharmaceuticals USA And Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Inc., In Generic Quinapril Patent Case

NEW YORK, Nov. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pfizer said today that the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has affirmed a lower court decision imposing a preliminary injunction against sales of a generic quinapril product manufactured by Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Inc. and marketed by Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.

The lower court decision handed down in March by Judge Dickinson R. Debevoise of the United States District Court in New Jersey immediately halted the sale of generic quinapril by Ranbaxy and Teva, which had launched their product in December, 2004. Other non-infringing formulations remain on the U.S. market.

“Today’s decision sends a clear message that the law does not encourage or excuse infringement of valid pharmaceutical patents by generic companies,” said Pfizer Vice Chairman and General Counsel Jeff Kindler. “The ruling also reinforces the importance of intellectual property protection to the development of new, life saving medicines.”

Pfizer’s patent infringement action against Ranbaxy and Teva remains pending in district court in New Jersey, where the company is seeking damages resulting from lost sales.

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CONTACT: Bryant Haskins of Pfizer Inc, +1-212-733-8719

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