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Our Bureau

New Delhi , April 26

An Austrian five-judge panel upheld an earlier decision by the patent office invalidating one of Pfizer Inc's patents on Lipitor, said Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd.

However, the American company claimed that it continued to hold other Lipitor patents in Austria, including its basic patent that does not expire until 2011. A decision on Ranbaxy's challenge to the main patent is still awaited. The decision is expected this year.

In a statement, Mr Malvinder Mohan Singh, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Ranbaxy said, "We are pleased with the decision rendered by the Supreme Patent and Trademark Board of Austria. Our success further validates our strategy to successfully commercialise atorvastatin in Austria, and potentially other healthcare markets in the future.

"It is anticipated that this will have a positive impact on healthcare costs, by providing a high quality, generic alternative at affordable prices."

Meanwhile, Pfizer said the court ruling on the patent for Lipitor applies only to Austria and is not relevant to patent litigation between Ranbaxy and Pfizer in any other jurisdiction.

Lipitor is one of the world's largest selling drugs with sales expected to touch $13 billion this year.

More Stories on : IPR | Pharmaceuticals | Courts/Legal Issues | Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd

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