Ranbaxy successfully invalidates Atorvastatin patent

Mumbai, Apr 26: Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals has announced that a five-judge panel of the Supreme Patent and Trademark Board of Austria (OPM) has unanimously affirmed an earlier ruling of the Austrian Patent Office, which has invalidated claims (1-3) sought by Ranbaxy against Pfizer's Austrian Patent (AT 207896) covering Atorvastatin calcium (Lipitor).

On March 29 last year, the patent office had ruled (AT 207896) invalid for lack of novelty over Pfizer's international patent application and lack of inventive step over United States patent No 4,681,893, a company release said to BSE today.

''We are Pleased with the decision rendered by the Supreme Patent and the Trademark Board of Austria'' said Ranbaxy's Managing Director Malvinder Singh.

''Our success further validates our strategy to successfully commercialise Atorvastatin in Austria, and potentially other healthcare markets in future. It is anticipated that this will have a positive impact on healthcare costs by providing high quality, generic alternative at affordable prices,'' he further added.

UNI