RALEIGH, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. (NASDAQ:SLXP) today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. Patent No. 7,612,199 (the ‘199 patent) entitled “Polymorphic Forms Alpha, Beta, and Gamma of Rifaximin”. The patent issued November 3, 2009 and provides protection until June 2024. The ‘199 patent provides further protection relating to composition of matter relating to physical chemical states of rifaximin. Salix has an exclusive license from Alfa Wassermann, S.p.A., to use, sell, have sold and import licensed rifaximin products, which the Company markets in the United States under the trade name XIFAXAN®. The ‘199 patent provides protection for all indications currently marketed and being assessed.
