Yesterday, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Nasdaq: TEVA; TASE: TEVA) unit Cephalon won an appeal in the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington against a ruling that would have allowed generic versions of its muscle relaxant Amrix.
The lower court ruled that the patents protecting the drug were trivial.
Amrix, which is prescribed to treat muscle spasms resulting from spinal problems, had US sales of over $100 million 2011, hence the importance of the victory in the appeal against the lower court ruling. The appeals court did however say that Mylan (MYL) and Par Pharmaceutical Cos. (PRX) can seek victory on other grounds, including allegations of patent misuse and antitrust violations.
Cephalon's patents covering Amrix expire in 2023 and 2025.
Teva completed the $7 billion acquisition of Cephalon six months ago.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on April 17, 2012
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