Lilly prevails in patent dispute over Alimta

Eli Lilly has announced that the Patent Trial and Appeal Board of the US Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) has ruled in the company’s favor regarding the patentability of the vitamin regimen for the chemotherapy drug Alimta (pemetrexed for injection).

In the inter partes review proceedings initiated by Neptune Generics and Novartis unit Sandoz, the PTO found that the claims of the vitamin regimen patent are valid. If the patent is ultimately upheld through all remaining challenges, Alimta would maintain US exclusivity until May 2022, preventing marketing of generic products for as long as the patent remains in force.