www.asiabiotech.com Industry Watch

India Favorable Decision Granted to Ranbaxy Laboratories on ’s Australian Patent

anbaxy Laboratories Ltd announced that the Federal Court of Australia have been handed down a favorable decision in the company’s case against Pfizer regarding RPfizer’s Australian atorvastatin patent 628198. Atorvastatin is a cholesterol-lowering drug which is marketed by Pfizer as Lipitor(R). Justice Neil Young ruled that one of Pfizer’s patents is invalid for false suggestion and misrepresentation in obtaining the grant of Australian patent 628198, but said that Ranbaxy’s atorvastatin product infringes another Pfizer patent. The court’s ruling followed a trial in Melbourne which took place from October 9th to 23rd, 2006. The invalidity of Pfizer’s Australian patent 628198 was principally based on Pfizer’s representation to the Australian Patent Office that the potency of the R-enantiomer (atorvastatin), in relation to its ability to inhibit production of cholesterol, was unexpectedly 10-fold more than that of the corresponding racemic material. This representation was held to be “false and misleading.” Jay Deshmukh, Ranbaxy’s Senior vice president, Global Intellectual Property, noted, “We are pleased with this decision as it stands, as it advances the entry of Ranbaxy’s generic atorvastatin in Australia in 2012.”

About Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd, headquartered in , is an integrated, research based, international pharmaceutical company producing a wide range of quality, affordable generic medicines, trusted by healthcare professionals and patients worldwide. Ranbaxy’s continued focus on R&D has resulted in several approvals in developed markets and significant progress in new drug discovery research. The company’s foray into Novel Drug Delivery Systems has led to proprietary “platform technologies,” resulting in a number of products under development. The company is serving its customers in 125 countries and has an expanding international portfolio of affiliates, joint ventures and alliances, ground operations in 49 countries and manufacturing operations in nine countries.

Contact Details: Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd Address: Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd Corporate Office, Plot 90, Sector 32, Gurgaon122001 (), India Tel: +91 124 4135000 Fax: +91 124 4135001 URL: www.ranbaxy.com/contactus.htm

32 APBN • Vol. 11 • No. 1 • 2007