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Teva suffers big legal setback By Haaretz Correspondent and Agencies , By Yoram Gabison Tags: Teva Teva Pharmaceuticals suffered a big loss on Friday as a U.S. federal appeals court upheld a lower court ruling that Teva had infringed on two patents held by Pfizer, Inc. on its popular Celebrex drug. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit rejected claims by Teva that the two Celebrex patents at issue in the case were invalid, although it agreed with Teva that a third patent was invalid. A U.S. district court in Newark ruled in favor of Pfizer, upholding its three main patents for Celebrex nearly a year ago. The decision barred Teva from launching a competitor drug in the United States until December 2015. Advertisement This was Teva's second big legal setback in 48 hours. Last week it announced it was suing the FDA, seeking 180-day exclusivity for its copycat form of Johnson & Johnson's schizophrenia drug Risperdal, which has global annual sales of $3.5 billion. Pfizer sued Teva in February 2004 after the generic drugmaker asked U.S. regulators for permission to sell a copycat version of Celebrex. If Teva had won that case, it would have received six months of exclusivity on sales of the generic version of Celebrex. Celebrex, approved in 1998, is an anti-inflammatory drug used to treat osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. It is Pfizer's second biggest revenue producer, both in the U.S. and around the world, with annual global sales of $2.3 billion. Its U.S. sales are $1.7 billion. A Pfizer spokesman said the company was still studying the decision and could not immediately comment on its significance. Teva shares were down 0.21% to $47.75 on Friday on the Nasdaq. Pfizer slipped 1.11% to $21.35 on the New York Stock Exchange, amid a moderate downturn for the drug sector. Bookmark to del.icio.us   State policy Olmert approves plan for 750 new homes in West Bank settlement of Givat Ze'ev. Sticking to his story Director of 'Jenin, Jenin' swears there are no falsehoods in his movie.

Today Online Palestinians: Hamas, Hezbollah cooperated on Jerusalem attack Responses: 183 Shin Bet chief: Chances of fresh Intifada are low Responses: 74 Gideon Levy: Mercaz Harav produced the rabbis who led the vilest form of Zionism Responses: 141 Editorial: Peace now, or eternal conflict later Responses: 53 Kuwaiti analyst: Best if Israel, not U.S., destroys Iran nukes Responses: 59 Jewish Agency to start anti-terror drive in wake of J'lem attack Responses: 43 More Headlines 23:30 Stricken J'lem yeshiva: PM not welcome to visit 23:04 Shin Bet chief: Chances of fresh Intifada in 2008 are low 21:17 FM to U.S. envoy: Conditions not ripe for forming Palestinian state 01:46 Amos Oz: Left wing can return to power in next elections 22:48 Minister Boim accuses IAEA chief of serving as agent for Iran 22:08 'Jenin, Jenin' director tells court film based entirely on truth 00:41 Palestinians protest Goldie Hawn appearance at JNF event 18:03 PM okays 750 new settlement homes, says fits state policy 16:38 Study: Boston's intermarried 'as observant' as Reform Jews 20:21 High Court rejects petitions to overturn Ramon cabinet appointment 00:46 Second victim of ambush on IDF jeep laid to rest in Ashkelon 00:16 Holocaust museum to honor Helena Bonham Carter's grandfather for saving Jews Previous Editions Select Day 09 mar 07 mar 06 mar 05 mar 04 mar 03 mar 02 mar 29 feb 28 feb 27 feb 26 feb 25 feb

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