INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 2, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Eli Lilly and
Company (NYSE: LLY) today announced that the Japan IP High Court
confirmed the decisions of the Japan Patent Office and ruled in
Lilly's favor in the invalidation trials initiated by Sawai
regarding Lilly's vitamin regimen patents for Alimta.
In the fourth quarter of 2015, the Japan Patent Office issued
written decisions upholding the validity of the Alimta vitamin
regimen patents.
If the patents are ultimately upheld through all challenges,
they could provide intellectual property protection for Alimta in
Japan until June 2021. Lilly will take necessary actions to
defend and enforce the patents.
"We are pleased with the decision from the Japan IP High Court
confirming the validity of the Alimta vitamin regimen patents,"
said Michael J. Harrington, senior
vice president and general counsel for Lilly. "Lilly's significant
scientific research in support of the Alimta vitamin regimen
deserves intellectual property protection."
Harrington continued, "We continue to emphasize that protection
of intellectual property rights is extremely important to the
biopharmaceutical industry and to the patients we serve. These
rights provide assurances of market exclusivity that 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 Japan
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 resolution of this
litigation. 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
__________________________
Alimta® (pemetrexed, Lilly)
Refer to: Lauren
Zierke; lauren_zierke@lilly.com; +1 317-277-6524 (U.S.
Media)
Hironori Hosoi;
hosoi_hironori@lilly.com; +81-(0)90-7870-5600 (Japan Media)
Phil Johnson; johnson_philip_l@lilly.com; +1 317-655-6874
(Investors)
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SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company