23rd Jun 2005 06:00
Pfizer Statement on Patent Office Communication NEW YORK, June 23 -- A communication from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) reported today does not concern the validity of the basic ('893) and enantiomer ('995) patents providing market exclusivity for Lipitor through March 2010 and June 2011, respectively. Those patents remain in force and, therefore, there are no approved generic forms of Lipitor. The USPTO communication is not a final decision but instead a preliminary finding regarding one of several other patents covering Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium). The only patent at issue in the USPTO proceeding is the '156 patent, which concerns the crystalline form of Lipitor and which expires in 2017. The USPTO proceedings do not concern in any way the patents ('893 and '995) that are the subject of litigation with Ranbaxy Laboraties Ltd. of India in the United States and a number of other countries. The U.S. litigation is awaiting a decision by the U.S. District Court of Delaware. The USPTO communication invites a response from Pfizer, which the company will file in due course. Pfizer will continue vigorously to defend its intellectual property and the validity of its patents. SOURCE Pfizer Inc 06/23/2005 /CONTACT: Mariann Caprino of Pfizer, +1-212-733-4554/ /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