US Court rules in favour of Mylan for Copaxone patents: Natco

Drug firm Natco Pharma today said a US District Court has ruled in favour of its marketing partner Mylan by invalidating Israel-based Teva Pharmaceuticals' patents related to multiple sclerosis drug Copaxone 40 mg/mL.

"The United States District Court for the District of Delaware issued a decision finding all asserted claims of four Orange Book-listed patents related to Copaxone 40 mg/mL invalid based on obviousness," Natco Pharma said in a BSE filing.

It further said: "The invalidated patents... are owned by Yeda Research and Development Company and licensed to Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd." In December 2016, the US Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) had ruled in favour of Mylan and three patents related to Copaxone 40 mg/mL were found unpatentable.

Quoting IMS Health data, the company said, Copaxone 40 mg/mL had US sales of approximately USD 3.3 billion for the 12 months ending November 30, 2016.

On August 24, 2016, the US Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) has ruled in favour of Mylan in its inter partes review (IPR) proceedings and found all claims of two related Copaxone 40 mg/mL patents to be unpatentable.

Shares of Natco Pharma were trading 4.37 per cent up at Rs 689.10 on BSE.