AstraZeneca appeals against Toprol XL decisions
AstraZeneca has filed an appeal to the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit regarding its ruling that patents on the company's cardiovascular drug Toprol XL (metoprolol succinate) were invalid.
AstraZeneca has filed an appeal to the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit regarding its ruling that patents on the company's cardiovascular drug Toprol XL (metoprolol succinate) were invalid.
The ruling, which covers the compound patent (5,081,154) and the composition patent (5,001,161) on the extended release tablet formulation of the drug, opens the door for generic launches, thus posing a threat to the $1,291m sales generated by the drug in the US in 2005.
Prior to the ruling both patents were due to expire on 17 September 2007.