Salix said that the patent provides protection until August 2019 for Rifaximin, which Salix markets in the US under the trade names Xifaxan (200mg) and Xifaxan550 (550mg). Salix acquired rights to market Rifaximin in North America from Alfa Wassermann in Bologna, Italy.
Salix stated that the US Patent No 7,718,608 provides protection relating to a method of treating a subject suffering from irritable bowel syndrome.
Carolyn Logan, president and CEO of Salix Pharma, said: “We are pleased to announce the issuance of additional intellectual property protection for Rifaximin in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.
“We view patent protection as an essential component of our product life cycle management to protect the indications in development as well as the products in our portfolio.”