Lilly obtains preliminary injunction to prevent launch of Teva’s generic Evista

Eli Lilly and Company has reported that the US District Court for the Southern District of Indiana has issued a preliminary injunction to prevent the launch of a generic version of the company’s medicine Evista by Teva Pharmaceuticals until the court renders its final ruling.

Teva had indicated that it was prepared to launch the generic version prior to the resolution of outstanding patent litigation currently being considered by the US District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. Lilly had previously sought and been granted a temporary restraining order to prevent the generic launch.

According to Lilly, Evista is a medicine indicated for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women; the reduction in risk of invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis; and the reduction in risk of invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal women at high risk for invasive breast cancer.

Robert Armitage, senior vice president and general counsel of Lilly, said: We appreciate the court issuing a preliminary injunction and ensuring that the intellectual property protection for Evista remains in place until the court renders its final opinion.

We believe Teva’s challenges to Lilly’s Evista patents are without merit and we expect to prevail in this litigation. We have taken and will continue to take all appropriate actions needed to protect our intellectual property rights as they relate to Evista.