Federal Court Upholds Celebrex Patents; Teva Plans Appeal

A federal district court has blocked plans by Teva Pharmaceutical to launch a generic version of Pfizer's blockbuster arthritis treatment Celebrex.

In a ruling last week, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey upheld three patents held by Pfizer related to celecoxib, the active ingredient in Celebrex.

The court said claims in patents '823, '165 and '068, which cover the active ingredient, drug compositions, certain compounds and methods of use, are valid and enforceable. Teva's generic version, if launched prior to the patent expirations in 2014 and 2015, would infringe on patent claims covering the brand product, the ruling added.

The decision prohibits Teva from launching its competing drug in the U.S. until December 2015, Pfizer said.

Teva, which sought FDA approval to launch generic celecoxib in 100-, 200- and 400-mg capsules, disagreed with the ruling and immediately announced plans to appeal.