Court reverses decision in Neurontin patent case

JERUSALEM The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has reversed a decision made by the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey in regards to Pfizer’s patent on the nerve pain treatment drug Neurontin.

The District Court had originally favored Teva in its decision and allowed the generic manufacturer to launch its gabapentin drug in late 2004. The original patent by Pfizer was set to expire in 2017.

The ruling will allow Pfizer to seek judgment on infringement against the generic manufacturers, and if successful, pursue full compensation for the damages it suffered since the generic versions launched. Pfizer had sales of more than $2 billion a year from Neurontin before the generic versions launched.