U.S. District Court Rules in Lilly's Favor on Alimta Vitamin Regimen Patent

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Aug 25, 2015, 05:09 ET

INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 25, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) today announced that the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana has ruled in the company's favor regarding infringement of the vitamin regimen patent for Alimta^® (pemetrexed for injection).

In the case of Eli Lilly and Company v. Teva Parenteral Medicines, Inc., et al., the court ruled that the vitamin regimen patent would be infringed by the generic challengers' proposed products. The patent provides intellectual property protection for Alimta until May 2022. In March 2014, the court previously upheld the validity of the vitamin regimen patent. The Alimta compound patent remains in force through early 2017.

"We are pleased with today's District Court ruling on Alimta finding the vitamin regimen patent would be infringed," said Michael J. Harrington, senior vice president and general counsel for Lilly. "The significant scientific research that Lilly performed in support of the vitamin regimen patent deserves intellectual property protection. We continue to emphasize that protection of intellectual property rights is extremely important to the biopharmaceutical industry and the patients we serve. These rights help support the development of the next generation of innovative medicines to treat unmet medical needs."

About Eli Lilly and Company
Lilly is a global healthcare leader that unites caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We were founded more than a century ago by a man committed to creating high-quality medicines that meet real needs, and today we remain true to that mission in all our work. Across the globe, Lilly employees work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. To learn more about Lilly, please visit us at www.lilly.com and http://newsroom.lilly.com/social-channels. C-LLY

This release contains forward-looking statements regarding the U.S. Alimta patent litigation. These statements are based on management's current expectations but actual results may differ materially. There can be no assurance that the company will prevail in any appeal. Also, the company cannot predict whether generic pemetrexed will be marketed prior to the expiration of the vitamin regimen patent. Other risk factors that may affect the company's results can be found in the company's latest Forms 10-K and 10-Q filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Alimta^® (pemetrexed, Lilly)