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Eli Lily Tries to Extend Exclusivity on Cancer Drug

Facing the natural expiration of the patent on its highly profitable lung-cancer treatment Alimta, Eli Lily this month went to trial to defend a follow-on patent for the treatment.

 

The follow-on patent would cover not only Alimta's basic compound but a method of administering that drug along with certain vitamins designed to mitigate side effects. So The Wall Street Journal reports.

 

Defending “secondary patents” like the patent on Alimta's vitamin regimen is a way for Big Pharma companies to extend their exclusive rights to sell successful drugs. However, generic-drug companies have historically had significant success arguing that such follow-on patents should be struck down because their claims were anticipated by prior, publicly available research.

 

Read the full article from The Wall Street Journal here.

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