29th Mar 2005 16:33
Pfizer to Appeal Austrian Lipitor Patent Decision 'Ruling Applies Only to Austria and Is Not Relevant to Patent Litigation Between Ranbaxy and Pfizer in Other Jurisdictions, Including the U.S.,' Pfizer States NEW YORK, March 29 -- Pfizer Inc said today that it will appeal a decision by the Austrian Patent Office to invalidate the company's enantiomer patent covering atorvastatin calcium, the active ingredient in Lipitor. Lipitor is sold in Austria under the brand name, Sortis. Pfizer said it is confident it will, on appeal, be able to make a compelling argument in support of its patent, which had been challenged in Austria by Ranbaxy. Pfizer pointed out that the ruling applies only to Austria and is not relevant to patent litigation between Ranbaxy and Pfizer in other jurisdictions, including the U.S. Pfizer holds another composition-of-matter patent for Lipitor in Europe (expiring in 2011), that covers a class of compounds including atorvastatin calcium. Ranbaxy also has challenged that patent in Austria, but no hearing has been scheduled. The enantiomer patent will remain in force during the appeals process, which is expected to take about a year. SOURCE Pfizer Inc 03/29/2005 /CONTACT: Paul Fitzhenry of Pfizer Inc, +1-212-733-4637/ /Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/688250.html / /Company News On-Call: Pfizer's press releases are available through PR Newswire's Company News On-Call service on PRN's Web Site. Visit http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/688250.html/ /Photo: A free corporate logo to accompany this story is available immediately via Wieck Photo Database to any media with telephoto receiver or electronic darkroom, PC or Macintosh, that can accept overhead transmissions. To retrieve a logo, please call 972-392-0888./ /Web site: http://www.pfizer.com / (PFE) ENDPFIZER INCRelated Shares:
PFZ.L