USPTO grants Pfizer reissue patent for Celebrex, extending term to Dec 2015

Global pharma behemoth Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) said yesterday that the US Patent & Trademark Office has granted the company a reissue patent (US Patent No RE44048), covering methods of treating osteoarthritis and other approved conditions with celecoxib, the active ingredient in Celebrex.

The reissue patent will expire on December 2, 2015, which includes six months of pediatric exclusivity. The basic patent for celecoxib expires on May 30, 2014, which also includes six months of pediatric exclusivity. Celebrex generated US sales of $1.75 billion for Pfizer last year.

“Continued development of new medicines that enhance patient lives is supported by protecting intellectual property and innovation,” said Amy Schulman, executive vice president and general counsel for Pfizer, adding: "We are pleased with the reissuance of this patent protecting the invention of using celecoxib to treat osteoarthritis and other approved conditions, and have initiated legal proceedings to enforce our intellectual property rights through December 2, 2015.”