US Appeals Court upholds Lo Loestrin Fe patent

23 October 2014

Ireland-headquartered generics major Actavis (NYSE: ACT) confirmed that it has prevailed in a court battle over the patent on its contraceptive pill Lo Loestrin FE (norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol tablets, ethinyl estradiol tablets and ferrous fumarate tablets).

The company said that the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has upheld a lower court ruling that found US Patent No 7,704,984 (the '984 Patent) to be valid and infringed by Indian drugmaker Lupin Pharmaceuticals and USA-based Amneal Pharmaceuticals' Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDAs) for generic versions of Lo Loestrin Fe, a prescription birth control pill used for the prevention of pregnancy.

As a result of the Court's ruling, Lupin and Amneal are prevented from launching their generic versions of Lo Loestrin Fe until after the '984 Patent expires on February 2, 2029, said Actavis. The drug generated $68 million in sales for the company in the second quarter of 2014.

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