Novartis Wins Patent Fight Over Best-Selling MS Drug

Novartis AG fended off a challenge to a patent on its blockbuster multiple sclerosis treatment Gilenya, prolonging its protection from generic competition.

An administrative patent review board rejected a challenge by a group of generic drugmakers’ to U.S. Patent No. 9,187,405 in a decision it issued July 11. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., Apotex Corp., Argentum Pharmaceuticals LLC, and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. had urged the Patent Trial and Review Board to invalidate it in a proceeding called inter partes review.

The win gives Novartis more breathing room on Gilenya (fingolimod), the company’s main neuroscience product and its best-selling drug by ...