Patent briefs: Yaz patent invalid; FDA bars generic OxyContin; Appeals court backs GSK over Arzerra

US generics major Actavis (NYSE: ACT, previously trading as Watson) said yesterday (April 16) that it has re-launched Vestura (3mg drospirenone and 0.02mg ethinyl estradiol), a generic version of Germany’s Bayer’s (BAYN: DE) Yaz oral contraceptive product, following a ruling from the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit that US Patent No RE 37,564 is invalid. The patent expires on June 30, 2014, the ruling said.

Actavis first launched Vestura in January 2012, but removed the product from the market in March 2012 following a ruling from the US District Court for the District of Nevada upholding the validity of the RE '564 Patent. Actavis appealed the ruling to the Federal Circuit.

"We disagree with the court's ruling and are evaluating our options," said a Bayer spokeswoman. For the 12 months ended February 28, 2013, total US brand and generic sales of Yaz were around $347 million.