Teva sold generic Lipitor in UK, despite ongoing patent proection, FT reports

Despite the fact that US drugs behemoth Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) has patent protection for its blockbuster cholesterol lowerer Lipitor (atorvastatin) well into next year, Israel-headquartered Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (Nasdaq: TEVA) last month started selling a generic version Lipitor in the UK, reports the Financial Times.

Industry experts estimated that the company shipped more than two months’ stock of atorvastatin - worth around £14 million ($22.5 million) - in June, at a discount of at least 15% to the previous price for the product, the FT noted.

Teva sold quantities of the drug to two wholesalers – AAH and Phoenix, which quickly sold stocks on to pharmacists, the FT states. Pfizer won a temporary injunction to stop further sales of its copy version of Lipitor, with the freeze effective until July 11, when the court will reconvene.