The District Court of The Hague in the Netherlands has ruled in favor of Pfizer, Inc. (NYSE: PFE) that the basic patent covering atorvastatin (the active ingredient in Lipitor) would be infringed by a competitor product from generics manufacturer Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. (PINK: RBXLF, BOM: 500359).
Subject to appeal, the decision prevents Ranbaxy from launching its generic version before Lipitor's basic patent (EP 247,633) expires in November 2011.
According to Pfizer General Counsel Allen Waxman:
"Today's decision is another affirmation of the strength of the intellectual property behind Lipitor, one of the most important medical breakthroughs of our era.
The court's ruling reinforces the fundamental principle that patent laws exist to support and encourage medical innovators, not undermine them."
The Dutch court decisions do not affect challenges to Lipitor patents pending in other countries, including the United States.
Pfizer is adamant to continuously defend its patent against infringement.
Source: Pfizer, Inc.
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