The company noted that certain formalities must be completed before the reissue patent will be granted. The reissued patent will have the same force and effect as the original patent and the same June 2011 expiration date.
Raymond Kerins, Jr, vice president of worldwide communications at Pfizer, said: “This is a very positive development, not just for Pfizer but for all those who believe that defending intellectual property is vital to supporting the enormous investments required to develop life-saving new medicines.
“We have said all along that we had strong arguments for securing the reissue of the patent, and after a vigorous and thorough examination, the US Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) agreed with this conclusion.”