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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
CONSUMERS ULTIMATE WINNERS IN GENERIC DRUG VICTORY:
RANBAXY PREVAILS IN CEFUROXIME AXETIL CHALLENGE
Powerhouse IP Law Firm Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear, LLP Instrumental in Denying Glaxo SmithKline Damages
Latest in a Recent Trend of Big Wins
Irvine, California, April 7, 2004 -- Knobbe, Martens,
Olson & Bear, LLP, is pleased to announce that
its client, Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited and Ranbaxy
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Ranbaxy") has prevailed
in the patent infringement lawsuit brought by GlaxoSmithKline
("GSK") relating to Ranbaxy's generic version
of GSK's antibiotic "Ceftin®." While
GSK had sought damages, Ranbaxy's victory means the
company will not be ordered to pay any money to GSK.
GSK brought the matter before the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey in October of 2000. The district court originally granted GSK a preliminary injunction that initially kept Ranbaxy from marketing its antibiotic. However, in 2001, Ranbaxy prevailed on its appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and launched its product after that Court vacated the preliminary injunction. Now, after a full trial, the district court determined that Ranbaxy's antibiotic does not infringe GSK's patent rights and Ranbaxy is not required to pay any money to GSK.
Darrell L. Olson, lead counsel for Ranbaxy and a litigation partner with Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear stated, "We are delighted with the outcome for Ranbaxy. The dedication of Ranbaxy through this litigation and our dedication to the client were instrumental to achieving this victory. This was truly a team effort."
"Ranbaxy's efforts to bring lower cost generic drugs to consumers often meet patent challenges from other pharmaceutical companies. Our job is to defend Ranbaxy's ability to bring these products to market, and we are pleased that Ranbaxy has ultimately prevailed in bringing its cefuroxime axetil product to market over GSK's patent challenge," said William R. Zimmerman, a litigation partner with Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear who works closely with Ranbaxy in its intellectual property matters.
Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited, the parent company of Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is the ninth largest generic pharmaceutical company in the world, according to Med Ad News, October 2001, and is the largest pharmaceutical company in India. It has been developing generic pharmaceuticals for over 41 years and is a market leader in the pharmaceutical industry. Jay R. Deshmukh, Vice President Intellectual Property Worldwide for Ranbaxy, commented, "This victory is another step forward in the company's generic drug efforts, as well as a step forward in achieving the company's mission of becoming a research based international pharmaceutical company. The company could not be more pleased with the results in this case."
The trial attorneys from Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear who represented Ranbaxy included the following partners: Darrell L. Olson, William R. Zimmerman, Douglas G. Muehlhauser and Karen Vogel Weil, and associates: Brian C. Horne, Payson LeMeilleur, and Thomas P. Krzeminski.
With
over 160 attorneys throughout California, Knobbe,
Martens, Olson & Bear, LLP represents clients
in all areas of intellectual property law and litigation.
Clients include public and private companies at various
stages of growth, from start-up to the Fortune 500.
Founded in 1962, the firm is one of the largest intellectual
property law firms in the United States.
© 2008 Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP a Limited Liability Partnership including Professional Corporations. Site Map