European Patent Office Upholds Teva’s Patent for Copaxone

The European Patent Office has upheld a Teva Pharmaceutical Industries’ patent for the multiple sclerosis drug Copaxone, according to a recent SEC filing.

The Israeli drugmaker disclosed last week in a filing for foreign securities issuers that the patent office rejected challenges to the Copaxone (glatiramer acetate) patent from Synthos, Actavis and Mylan “on various grounds.” The information could not be corroborated with the patent office, whose records had not been updated last week to include the decision.

According to the filing, the patent office is “expected to issue a detailed written decision within a few weeks.”

Teva notes that the ruling still is subject to appeal, but “it is expected that any appeal will take up to two years to be heard.”

The patent for the drug expires in 2030.