US District Court upholds Endo's Opana ER patents

The District Court for the Southern District of New York has issued a ruling upholding two Endo International (Nasdaq: ENDP) patents covering its top-selling opioid analgesic Opana ER (oxymorphone hydrochloride) extended-release tablets, indicated for the management of pain severe enough to require daily, around-the-clock, long-term opioid treatment and for which alternative treatment options are inadequate.

The ruling also determined that Endo's patents had been infringed by all of the defendants. As a result, it is expected that the generic version of non-crush-resistant Opana ER currently sold by Actavis, the US generics business of Allergan (NYSE: AGN), will be removed from the market and additional approved but not yet marketed generic versions of the product developed by other generic companies will not be launched in the near term.

Judge to decide if damages are payable