NEW YORK - Pfizer Inc. announced in a Wednesday press release that the Court of Appeal of Barcelona has upheld the company's enantiomer patent covering the calcium salt of atorvastatin, the active ingredient in Lipitor, reversing the lower court decision. The calcium salt patent expires in July 2010.

source: ag-IP news

The patent was challenged by generic manufacturer Lek Pharmaceuticals DD, and is one of four separate challenges to the calcium salt patent by generic companies in Spain.

Lipitor is sold in Spain under the brand names Zarator and Cardyl.

"This is a victory not only for Pfizer, but for all innovators pursuing high-risk medical discoveries and for the patients who benefit from those discoveries," said Pfizer General Counsel Allen Waxman.

Lek Pharmaceuticals can seek to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court of Spain.