U.S. District Court Rules Against Lilly Regarding Gemzar Patent

Court Alerts

Eli Lilly and Company today announced that the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan has granted a motion by Sun Pharmaceuticals for partial summary judgment. The Court's ruling invalidates Lilly's '826 patent, or method-of-use patent, for Gemzar((R)) (gemcitabine HCl for injection) which had been set to expire in 2013. The ruling has no bearing on Gemzar's compound patent, which remains valid until November 2010.


"We strongly disagree with the Court's ruling granting summary judgment in favor of the generic challenger," said Robert A. Armitage, senior vice president and general counsel for Lilly. "We continue to believe that our Gemzar method-of-use patent is valid and will be upheld by the courts. We intend to pursue an appeal of this decision with the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. It is also important to note that today's court decision does not allow for the immediate entry of generic gemcitabine in the U.S. market. Gemzar's compound patent remains in force until November 2010."

Related listings

  • Federal court OKs suit alleging illegal J&J sales

    Federal court OKs suit alleging illegal J&J sales

    Court Alerts 08/13/2009

    A federal appeals court has revived a multibillion-dollar Medicare fraud case brought by whistle-blowers alleging Johnson & Johnson paid doctors kickbacks to wrongly prescribe an expensive drug. Two former salespeople for the health care giant al...

  • Appeals court in Va. upholds sniper conviction

    Appeals court in Va. upholds sniper conviction

    Court Alerts 08/08/2009

    A federal appeals court in Virginia has affirmed the capital murder conviction and death sentence of D.C.-area sniper mastermind John Allen Muhammad. A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued its unanimous ruling Friday. The...

  • Plaintiffs in Dole case seek $1.6M judgment

    Plaintiffs in Dole case seek $1.6M judgment

    Court Alerts 08/07/2009

    Six Nicaraguans who say pesticide on a Dole banana farm made them sterile are trying to keep a $1.6 million judgment that's threatened because a judge ruled similar cases were phony. The men hired a lawyer who filed court papers Thursday arguing the ...

New York Commercial Litigation Law Firm - Woods Lonergan PLLC

Founded in 1993 by Managing Partner James F. Woods, Woods Lonergan PLLC has built a strong reputation as a resourceful and industrious firm that provides clients with clear, concise, and straightforward answers to their most challenging legal issues. Partner Lawrence R. Lonergan, who joined the firm in 2008, has been a friend and colleague to Mr. Woods for over 40 years and shares the same business philosophy. Woods Lonergan PLLC’s collective experience and expertise enables the firm to expeditiously and effectively analyze the increasing challenges clients face in an evolving business and legal world, in many instances, avoiding unnecessary time and expense to our clients. Our mission is simple: provide cutting-edge expertise and sound advice in select areas of the law for corporate and business clients. We thrive on providing each client with personalized attention, forceful representation, and a collaborative team effort that embraces collective knowledge.

Business News

New York & New Jersey Family Law Matters We represent our clients in all types of proceedings that include termination of parental rights. >> read