Patent Office Affirms Four of Acorda’s Patents on MS Drug Ampyra Pending Court Ruling

The USPTO's Patent Trial and Appeal Board validated four of Acorda’s patents on the multiple sclerosis drug Ampyra, but a federal court still has to determine whether five of the drug’s patents are valid before generic drugmakers can market versions of Ampyra.

The patent office said there is not adequate support to challenge Acorda’s patents on Ampyra’s 10 mg extended release tablets. The four patents expire in May 2027.

Acorda sued 10 generics makers — Actavis, Aurobindo Pharma, Accord Healthcare, Par Pharmaceutical, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Alkem Laboratories, Apotex, Teva Pharmaceutical, Mylan and Roxane Laboratories — over alleged infringement of the company’s Ampyra patents.