US Appeals Court upholds Lo Loestrin Fe patent

23 October 2014
drugs_pills_tablets_big

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.

This article is accessible to registered users, to continue reading please register for free.  A free trial will give you access to exclusive features, interviews, round-ups and commentary from the sharpest minds in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology space for a week. If you are already a registered user please login. If your trial has come to an end, you can subscribe here.

Login to your account

Become a subscriber

 

£820

Or £77 per month

Subscribe Now
  • Unfettered access to industry-leading news, commentary and analysis in pharma and biotech.
  • Updates from clinical trials, conferences, M&A, licensing, financing, regulation, patents & legal, executive appointments, commercial strategy and financial results.
  • Daily roundup of key events in pharma and biotech.
  • Monthly in-depth briefings on Boardroom appointments and M&A news.
  • Choose from a cost-effective annual package or a flexible monthly subscription
The Pharma Letter is an extremely useful and valuable Life Sciences service that brings together a daily update on performance people and products. It’s part of the key information for keeping me informed

Chairman, Sanofi Aventis UK

Companies featured in this story

More ones to watch >


Today's issue

Company Spotlight





More Features in Generics