Pfizer Loses German Lipitor Patent

A German patent court has revoked Pfizer’s patent covering the active ingredient in Lipitor, which would have expired in 2010.

The Federal Patent Court ruled in favor of two generic challengers — Ranbaxy Laboratories and Basics GmbH — but neither company has regulatory approval to market generic Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium) in Germany. Pfizer said it would appeal the decision.

The cholesterol drug is sold in Germany under the brand name Sortis.