A Danish court has granted a preliminary injunction against Nomeco A/S, a pharmaceutical wholesaler in Denmark, prohibiting the sale of a generic version of Pfizer's Lipitor by Ranbaxy. The injunction, issued by the Copenhagen City Court in Denmark and subject to appeal by Nomeco, requires Ranbaxy's generic atorvastatin product to be withdrawn from the Danish market pending the outcome of a patent infringement trial that has not yet been scheduled.

The court ruled in Pfizer's favor on the three patents, atorvastatin calcium, the active ingredient in Lipitor, as well as processes and intermediate compounds used to make atorvastatin. The latest expiring patent provides coverage for Lipitor through November 2011.

"This ruling is another significant milestone in our defense of Lipitor patents around the world," said Pfizer's senior vice president and general counsel Allen Waxman. "And it's an important outcome for Pfizer and other medical innovators who invest in high-risk research to develop life-saving medicines for millions of patients," added Karin Verland, country manager of Pfizer Denmark.

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