Mylan Loses Court Fight Over Multiple Sclerosis Drug

The Supreme Court has ruled against generic drugmaker Mylan Inc. and other firms in their challenge of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries' patents for a blockbuster multiple sclerosis drug.

The justices ruled 7-2 that a federal appeals court wrongly overturned five of Teva's patents for the drug Copaxone, which generates about $4 billion in annual sales for Teva. The majority told a lower court to reconsider a ruling invalidating the patents.

The decision allows the Israel-based company to keep its exclusive rights to Copaxone until September, delaying generic competition from Mylan and the other companies. And it gives Teva more time to shift patients to a longer acting version that won't face competition until 2030.

Source: Medindia