Generics Defeat Pfizer in Gabapentin Litigation

Generic drug manufacturers, including Ivax Corp. and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries defeated Pfizer, Inc. on the generics' summary judgment motion of non-infringement Monday. Judge John Lifland, of the District of New Jersey, ruled that the generic version of gabapentin, the key ingredient in Pfizer's epilepsy drug Neurontin, did not infringe Pfizer's patent. The generics' motion to invalidate the patent on the grounds of indefiniteness was denied, however.

This follows Ivax's successful turning back of Pfizer's preliminary injunction motion last August.

This result is a substantial blow to Pfizer, whose sales of Neurontin had dropped from $782 million a year earlier to $161 million in the first half of this year.