Pfizer wins Celebrex patent challenge

NEW YORK Pfizer announced that the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has upheld two main patents for the company’s anti-inflammatory drug Celebrex, according to published reports.

Teva had challenged the patents, but the court ruled that the patents are valid and enforceable, but they did rule that a third patent, covering the treatment of inflammation was invalid.

Nevertheless, the decision blocks Teva from launching a generic version until May 2014.

The drug had global sales of $1.7 billion in 2007. Bear Stearns analyst project that it will reach global sales of $2.5 billion in 2008, an increase of 9 percent, and that the drug will pull in $3.1 billion by 2012.