J&J Can’t Prevent Sales of Generic Zytiga, Appeals Court Says

Low-cost versions of Johnson & Johnson’s prostate-cancer drug Zytiga can enter the market while a U.S. appeals court considers the validity of a patent on the blockbuster medicine.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on Tuesday rejected J&J’s request to prevent copycat versions from entering the U.S. market while the drugmaker appeals a trial judge’s ruling that invalidated a patent on the medicine.

The appeals court said the decision shouldn’t be seen as indicating which side will ultimately win. Arguments are scheduled for Jan. 24 in Washington.

Zytiga had $1.4 billion in U.S. sales in the first ...