Actavis claims victory in fight over birth control pill

A US court has rejected attempts by two companies to market generic versions of a birth control pill owned by pharmaceutical company Actavis.

The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld a lower court decision on Wednesday (October 23).

Baltimore-based Lupin Pharmaceuticals and New Jersey-based Amneal Pharmaceuticals had filed Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDAs), seeking permission to produce generic versions of Actavis's Lo Loestrin Fe, a prescription birth control pill used to prevent pregnancy.

Dublin-based Actavis sued the companies claiming its US patent number 7,704,984, called “extended oestrogen dosing contraceptive regimen”, would be infringed by the applications.

In January this year, the US District Court for the District of New Jersey sided with Actavis but the decision was appealed against.

The federal circuit upheld the district court’s decision, meaning Lupin and Amneal will be prevented from launching generic versions of the drug until after the patent expires, in February 2029.