Boryung Pharmaceutical Co. and other 4 generic pharmaceuticals firms prevail against Pfizer in an infringement suit brought by Pfizer for the generic version of cholesterol medicine Lipitor (Atorvastatin).
This is a second patent victory for Boryung Pharmaceutical Co in a month. Earlier it had won the a patent litigation against Sanofi-Aventis for generic version of Oxaliplatin (earlier post dated June 10, 2008 )
The news is as below
PFIZER LOSES RULING IN PATENT DISPUTE IN S. KOREA
Thursday, June 26, 2008; Posted: 04:08 AM
SEOUL, Jun 26, 2008 (AsiaPulse via COMTEX) --
This is a second patent victory for Boryung Pharmaceutical Co in a month. Earlier it had won the a patent litigation against Sanofi-Aventis for generic version of Oxaliplatin (earlier post dated June 10, 2008 )
The news is as below
PFIZER LOSES RULING IN PATENT DISPUTE IN S. KOREA
Thursday, June 26, 2008; Posted: 04:08 AM
SEOUL, Jun 26, 2008 (AsiaPulse via COMTEX) --
A South Korean judge today dismissed claims brought by Pfizer Inc., the world's largest drug maker, in a patent lawsuit against five local pharmaceutical firms over their generic version of cholesterol medicine, according to the South Korean companies.
The Patent Court of Korea Judge Lee Tae-jong upheld its earlier ruling in favor of Dong-A Pharmaceutical Co. (KSE:000640), Boryung Pharmaceutical Co. and three other South Korean companies, saying their generic drug for cholesterol treatment didn't infringe on a Pfizer patent.
New York-based Pfizer filed the lawsuit with the South Korean patent court, claiming the five South Korean companies allegedly infringed its patent related to its cholesterol medicine "Lipitor."
Although the original patent for the drug expired on May 29 last year, Pfizer extended the patent to 2013 by modifying it, which critics say is an "evergreen" patent protection system, a typical tactic for brand-name companies to extend patent protection and fend off competition with generic drugmakers.
"It's another victory for local drugmakers against 'evergreen' patent tactics by multinational companies," said Ahn So-young, a patent attorney representing the South Korean firms. It wasn't immediately known whether Pfizer will appeal.
A public relations official in Pfizer's Korean unit wasn't immediately available for comment.
It was the second victory in a month for South Korean drugmakers in patent disputes with multinational drug manufacturers. On June 9, French drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis SA lost a patent lawsuit against Boryung Pharmaceutical over its treatment for colorectal cancer.
The Patent Court of Korea Judge Lee Tae-jong upheld its earlier ruling in favor of Dong-A Pharmaceutical Co. (KSE:000640), Boryung Pharmaceutical Co. and three other South Korean companies, saying their generic drug for cholesterol treatment didn't infringe on a Pfizer patent.
New York-based Pfizer filed the lawsuit with the South Korean patent court, claiming the five South Korean companies allegedly infringed its patent related to its cholesterol medicine "Lipitor."
Although the original patent for the drug expired on May 29 last year, Pfizer extended the patent to 2013 by modifying it, which critics say is an "evergreen" patent protection system, a typical tactic for brand-name companies to extend patent protection and fend off competition with generic drugmakers.
"It's another victory for local drugmakers against 'evergreen' patent tactics by multinational companies," said Ahn So-young, a patent attorney representing the South Korean firms. It wasn't immediately known whether Pfizer will appeal.
A public relations official in Pfizer's Korean unit wasn't immediately available for comment.
It was the second victory in a month for South Korean drugmakers in patent disputes with multinational drug manufacturers. On June 9, French drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis SA lost a patent lawsuit against Boryung Pharmaceutical over its treatment for colorectal cancer.
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