3rd Sep 2014 06:46
LONDON (Alliance News) - Generic drugmaker Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd Wednesday said the UK High Court has given a positive judgement in support of Teva's case against British drug maker AstraZeneca PLC.
The case is related to the validity of EP1,085,877 covering the Single inhaler Maintenance And Reliever Therapy (SMART) indication for AstraZeneca's fixed dose formoterol/budesonide combination product, Symbicort. The company said the court's decision invalidating AstraZeneca's patent supports Teva's launch of DuoRespSpiromax in UK.
Israel-based Teva noted that the court agreed with its view that AstraZeneca's patent covering the SMART indication of Symbicort was obvious. The court rejected AstraZeneca's proposed amendments to the patent on the basis that they added matter. The case was brought to facilitate Teva's European launch of its formoterol/budesonide fixed combination product, DuoRespSpiromax which utilizes Teva's innovative Spiromax device technology.
The company noted the decision as the latest in its favour in respect of AstraZeneca's fixed dose, formoterol/budesonide combination product. Previously, Teva has successfully revoked patents EP0,613,371 and also, EP1,014,993, covering the use of the fixed dose combination in the treatment of asthma and in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) respectively, and their national equivalents, before the European Patent Office and the Norwegian court.
"Our DuoResp Spiromax product brings effective treatment to the patient in a device that is intuitive and easy to use. Yesterday's judgement is a big step in enabling us to make a difference to people's lives in the UK and all across Europe," Rob Koremans, President and Chief Executive of Teva Global Specialty Medicines, said.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
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