Dosage regimen is not patentable: EU Judgement

What is patentable and what is not is always remain unclear by reading the simple lines of legislation and its just a simple words but when we interpret, it always lead to many meanings.

Recently in a decision, in case of Actavis Vs Merck related to a patent of dosage regimen, they held patent invalid as the subject matter is not in the scope of patentability under article 53(c) EPC 2000.

For full judgement please click here (Source: Kluwer patent blog)

Pfizer Sues Actavis Group Over Lipitor Patent to Block Generic Copy

Pfizer Inc., the world’s largest drug company, sued Iceland’s Actavis Group hf asking a judge to block sales of a generic version of the cholesterol drug Lipitor until a patent expires in 2017.

New York-based Pfizer contends Actavis has applied to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to make copies of the drug in violation of the 1999 patent, according to a complaint filed today in federal court in Wilmington, Delaware.

“Plaintiffs will be irreparably harmed” if Actavis markets its product before the patent-protection expires, Pfizer lawyers said in the complaint, which also seeks legal fees and expenses.

Lipitor is the best-selling medicine worldwide, with sales of $11.4 billion in 2009. Pfizer said July 6 it received approval from the European Commission for a new chewable form of Lipitor for children over age 10. (Source: www.bloomberg.com)