Pharmaceutical company Lupin Ltd today said that a district court in the US has ruled against the company in a patent infringement suit filed by Sanofi-Aventis and King Pharmaceuticals.
Pharmaceutical company Lupin Ltd today said that a district court in the US has ruled against the company in a patent infringement suit filed by Sanofi-Aventis and King Pharmaceuticals.
The company informed the Bombay Stock Exchange that the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia has issued an opinion following the completion of a trial on Sanofi-Aventis US Patent No - 5061722 relating to Altace (Ramipril) drug and found the patent to be valid.Lupin Managing Director Kamal Sharma said, "It was a very close call for us and we are disappointed that the Court found the patent to be valid, albeit reluctantly, in the judge's own words." The company plans to to appeal this decision to the Federal Circuit, Sharma added.
The court decision followed a suit filed by King Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi-Aventis against Lupin alleging patent infringement on the '5061722' patent.
The trial was completed in June 2006, the company said. Ramipril (Altance) is a drug used for the treatment of high blood pressure.
Lupin's shares dropped 1.92 per cent to close at Rs 867.25 on the BSE.
Source:PTI News
