US Appeals Court revives Teva and Viatris case against J&J schizophrenia drug patent

Way for low-cost alternative: Teva Pharmaceutical and Viatris have secured a victory in a US appeals court on Monday, reigniting ir efforts to contest a patent covering Johnson & Johnson's blockbuster schizophrenia drug. 

This decision offers m a renewed opportunity to pave way for launch of more affordable generic versions of medication.

US Court of Appeals for Federal Circuit ruled that last remaining J&J patent related to its Invega Sustenna drug might be invalid, prompting case to be remanded to a New Jersey federal court for reassessment.

A spokesperson for Teva expressed satisfaction with ruling, stressing on company's erness to make this crucial low-cost medication available to patients as soon as possible. Representatives for J&J and Viatris have yet to comment on decision.

Last year, J&J recorded over $4.1 billion in global sales of Invega Sustenna and its related products, with nearly $2.9 billion generated from U.S. sales alone, according to company data. 

Legal disputes arose when J&J sued Teva and Mylan, w part of Viatris, for patent infringement concerning ir proposed generic versions of drug in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

In a ruling from 2021, US District Judge Claire Cecchi found Teva unable to demonstrate invalidity of J&J's patent, which covers a dosing regimen for Invega Sustenna. 

Viatris consented to abide by Cecchi's decision in its case.

However, a three-judge panel at Federal Circuit overturned Cecchi's ruling on Monday, sending case back to New Jersey court. 

appeals court indicated that Teva might have opportunity to establish patent's invalidity, citing that dosing regimen could have been deemed obvious to an ordinary person in field.

(With Reuters Inputs)