Ranbaxy in Lipitor patent suit with Pfizer in 17 countries

NEW DELHI: India’s largest drug-maker Ranbaxy has locked horns with the US-based world’s largest drug-maker Pfizer in 17 countries over infringement of patent of the latter’s blockbuster cholesterol lowering drug Lipitor. The company’s launch of the atorvastatin (the generic drug of Lipitor) is crucial in its plan to generate nearly $2 billion in sales over the next five-six years.The countries where Ranbaxy is into litigations with Pfizer for atorvastatin include the US, the UK, Norway, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Australia. Lipitor is the world’s largest selling drug with sales worth about $13 billion last year. The patent for Lipitor expires in 2010. During 2004-05, Ranbaxy had to reportedly shell out around Rs 160 crore to fight against Pfizer’s Lipitor drug. Ranbaxy has about 20 first-to-file (FTF) applications pending in the US, of which about 10 are in litigations — with atorvastatin being the big bet. FTF gives 180-day exclusive marketing period along with the patent holder.

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