Teva has announced that the UK High Court has invalidated AstraZeneca’s patent titled “Use of a composition comprising formoterol and budesonide for the prevention or treatment of an acute condition of asthma” (EP 1,085,877), which covers the SMART (Single inhaler Maintenance And Reliever Therapy) indication for Symbicort. The company says that it sought to invalidate the patent in order “to facilitate Teva’s European launch of its formoterol/budesonide fixed combination product, DuoResp Spiromax,” for which it received European marketing authorization in April 2014.
According to the company, it has successfully had two other patents for fixed dose combinations of formoterol and budesonide for the treatment of asthma and COPD (EP 0,613,371 and EP 1,014,993) revoked.
Teva Global Specialty Medicines President and CEO Rob Koremans commented, “Our DuoResp Spiromax product brings effective treatment to the patient in a device that is intuitive and easy to use. Yesterday’s judgment is a big step in enabling us to make a difference to people’s lives in the UK and all across Europe.”
Read the Teva press release.
