ALAPIS Α.Β.Ε.Ε.
Announcement.
ALAPIS S.A. announces that it has won a significant patent opposition case at the European Patent Office (EPO) as a result of which the EPO revoked European Patent no. EP1225168 owned by Pfizer Health AB, covering Latanoprost eye drop solution. The decision came on October 5th, at the end of oral proceedings during which the Opposition Division of the EPO heard arguments from Pfizer as well as five opposers of said patent, acting individually.
As a result, the Opposition Division of the EPO decided to revoke the Pfizer patent in full. If this decision becomes final, all the claims of this patent as originally granted will be deemed to have never existed. The EPO decision on the opposition case should bind all countries where the patent is effectively enforced.
The European Patent EP1225168 covered certain derivatives of prostaglandin 2α (PGF2α), amongst them is pharmaceutical active ingredient Latanoprost which is prescribed for reduction of elevated intraocular pressure in patients with open angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension.
The EPO decision came simultaneously with Alapis' very successful presence at the recent international CPhI exhibition, which took place in Paris during 4-7 October 2010.
Alapis has already been granted marketing authorizations of its generic Latanoprost product in UK, Spain and Italy through a DCP procedure and in Greece and Bulgaria through National Procedures. Alapis also anticipates marketing authorizations to be granted soon in Serbia, Croatia and Switzerland.
The EPO decision is a clear and decisive victory for Alapis. This decision allows Alapis and other companies to market an affordable, generic dosage form of Latanoprost eye drops that will be of benefit to patients and straining National Health Systems.
The positive outcome of the patent litigation case, the successful registration of the product in a number of countries and the strategic cooperation with the companies which have licensed Alapis' generic Latanoprost development are in line with Alapis' stated goal of dynamically entering the market of ophthalmological products.
As a result, the Opposition Division of the EPO decided to revoke the Pfizer patent in full. If this decision becomes final, all the claims of this patent as originally granted will be deemed to have never existed. The EPO decision on the opposition case should bind all countries where the patent is effectively enforced.
The European Patent EP1225168 covered certain derivatives of prostaglandin 2α (PGF2α), amongst them is pharmaceutical active ingredient Latanoprost which is prescribed for reduction of elevated intraocular pressure in patients with open angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension.
The EPO decision came simultaneously with Alapis' very successful presence at the recent international CPhI exhibition, which took place in Paris during 4-7 October 2010.
Alapis has already been granted marketing authorizations of its generic Latanoprost product in UK, Spain and Italy through a DCP procedure and in Greece and Bulgaria through National Procedures. Alapis also anticipates marketing authorizations to be granted soon in Serbia, Croatia and Switzerland.
The EPO decision is a clear and decisive victory for Alapis. This decision allows Alapis and other companies to market an affordable, generic dosage form of Latanoprost eye drops that will be of benefit to patients and straining National Health Systems.
The positive outcome of the patent litigation case, the successful registration of the product in a number of countries and the strategic cooperation with the companies which have licensed Alapis' generic Latanoprost development are in line with Alapis' stated goal of dynamically entering the market of ophthalmological products.