Bristol-Myers, Pfizer Beat Generic Makers on Eliquis Patents (1)

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and Pfizer Inc. won a trial court ruling Wednesday that upheld patents on their blockbuster blood-thinner Eliquis.

The companies, which share profits from sales of the drug, proved that generic-drug makers Sigmapharm Laboratories LLC, Unichem Laboratories Ltd. and Sunshine Lake Pharma Co. Ltd. would infringe valid patents, a federal judge in Wilmington, Delaware, said.

Representatives of the companies didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

U.S. District Judge Leonard Stark in his opinion rejected the generic-drug makers’ contention that the patents shouldn’t have been issued in the first place because Bristol-Myers had not adequately described the ...