Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE: TEVA; TASE: TEVA) has announced that the European Patent Office ruled in favor of Teva in a patent opposition proceeding filed by Synthon BV, Mylan and an unidentified third party.
Teva recalled that on September 6, 2012, the three opponents began proceedings against multiple sclerosis treatment Copaxone's European Patent EP 2 177 528, which expires September 9, 2025. In yesterday's hearing, the European Patent Office specifically determined that claims 1-12 of the '528 patent are valid and therefore infringing follow-on glatiramer products would not be able to launch prior to patent expiry.
Teva said that it will continue to vigorously defend its Copaxoneintellectual property rights against infringement wherever they are challenged.
Teva's US patent for Copaxone expired last Saturday but to date no company has obtained US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for generic Copaxone. Teva is also challenging the interpretation of its expiry patent in the US Supreme Court.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on May 28, 2014
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