NEW YORK, Feb. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pfizer Inc said today that the Helsinki Court of Appeal in Finland has granted a preliminary injunction against Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. that prohibits the manufacturer from marketing a generic version of Lipitor. The ruling involves Pfizer’s patent (FI94958) that covers processes and intermediate compounds used to make atorvastain, the active ingredient in Lipitor.
The decision reverses an earlier lower court ruling and, subject to a possible appeal to the Finnish Supreme Court, will remain in place during further judicial proceedings including a full patent infringement trial that has not yet been scheduled. The patent expires in February, 2009.
“This decision is another significant milestone in our defense of Lipitor patents around the world,” said Pfizer Vice Chairman and General Counsel Jeffrey Kindler. “It’s also an important outcome for Pfizer and other medical innovators who invest in high-risk research to develop life-saving medicines for millions of patients.”
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CONTACT: Bryant Haskins of Pfizer Inc, +1-212-733-8719
Web site: http://www.pfizer.com/
