Nycomed's U.S. Patent for Protonix(R) (pantoprazole) Valid

    ZURICH, July 19, 2010 /PRNewswire/ --

    - Nycomed's Protonix(R) Patent Found Infringed and not Obvious
    - U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey has Upheld Jury
      Findings
    - Nycomed Will Continue to Vigorously Pursue its Damage Claims

Nycomed announced today that Judge Jose L. Linares of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey has confirmed the jury verdict in favor of Nycomed and Pfizer Inc. The decision upholds the jury verdict issued on April 23, 2010, confirming that the patent is valid and rejecting allegations by the defendants that the patent was invalid as obvious and invalid for double patenting. Against KUDCo, the US generic drug business of the Schwarz Pharma Group, which did not at-risk launch, final Judgment was entered as a result of Judge Jose L. Linares' rulings.

All issues regarding validity and infringement of Nycomed's U.S. patent for Protonix(R) (pantoprazole) have been decided by the District Court in Nycomed's and Pfizer's favor.

Hakan Bjorklund, Chief Executive Officer of Nycomed, commented: "We are very pleased that the court recognized and acknowledged that our patent is valid. Patents represent the foundation of pharmaceutical innovation and are crucial to bring new medicines and treatments to patients who need them."

Nycomed now will continue to vigorously pursue its damage claims in this case, resulting from the launch of generic versions of Protonix(R) at-risk by Teva and Sun. In 2007, before Teva and Sun started their patent infringing generic sales, Protonix(R) sales reached USD 1.9 billion(1), and have since then decreased considerably. Nycomed will also seek a rapid adjudication of Teva's and Sun's remaining miscellaneous unenforceability defenses which were, together with Nycomed's damage claims, bifurcated from the first trial.

The pantoprazole patent, U.S. Patent No. 4,758,579, is owned by Nycomed and licensed to Wyeth(2), and expires in January 2011 (including pediatric exclusivity). Nycomed and Wyeth had filed their original patent infringement lawsuit in May 2004. In late 2007, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., launched a generic version of the product at-risk, followed by Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., in early 2008.

About Protonix(R) (Pantoprazole)

Protonix(R) (Pantoprazole) is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) used to reduce or prevent the production of gastric acid. Pantoprazole is an effective treatment for conditions where gastric acid reduction is required. It reduces the symptoms of a number of illnesses including stomach and intestinal gastric ulcers, heartburn, Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), and other related gastrointestinal diseases. Pantoprazole is also effective in preventing NSAID-induced gastric ulcers and is used by patients undergoing long-term NSAID therapy.

About Nycomed

Nycomed is a privately owned global pharmaceutical company with a differentiated portfolio focused on branded medicines in gastroenterology, respiratory and inflammatory diseases, pain, osteoporosis and tissue management. An extensive range of OTC products completes the portfolio.

Its R&D is structured around partnerships and in-licensing is a cornerstone of the company's growth strategy.

Nycomed employs 12,000 associates worldwide, and its products are available in more than 100 countries. It has strong platforms in Europe and in fast-growing markets such as Russia/CIS and Latin America. While the US and Japan are commercialised through best-in-class partners, Nycomed plans to further strengthen its own position in key Asian markets.

Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, the company generated total sales of EUR 3.2 billion in 2009 and an adjusted EBITDA of EUR 1.1 billion.

    1 Wyeth Financial Report 2007

    2 Wyeth became a wholly owned subsidiary of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) on
      October 15, 2009.

    For more information visit http://www.nycomed.com

    For further information

    Media:
    General phone: +41-445-55-15-10
    Beatrix Benz, phone: +41-44-555-15-08

    Investors:
    Christian B. Seidelin, phone: +41-44-555-11-04

SOURCE Nycomed