Pfizer fails to hold on to UK patent protection for Lyrica in pain

The UK High Court in London dealt a major blow to US pharma giant Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) when it ruled that claims of patent protection for the use of its Lyrica (pregabalin) as a pain treatment were invalid, according to reports by Reuters and other newswires.

Lyrica was originally developed for epilepsy. However, further research showed it could also help patients suffering from neuropathic pain and most prescriptions are now written for pain.

While the original patent on pregabalin expired last year, Pfizer was awarded a secondary patent covering pain, valid until July 2017, and the drugmaker had been fighting to protect this lucrative section of the market. Lyrica generates annual sales of over $5 billion.