AstraZeneca Loses Latest Bout Over Rosuvastatin Patents

The Full Federal Court of Australia has upheld the first instance judgment of the Federal Court of Australia that the three patents protecting AstraZenica’s rosuvastatin products (marketed as Crestor) are invalid.

In judgment handed down on 12 August 2014, the court unanimously dismissed the appeals by AstraZeneca against generic pharmaceutical companies Apotex Pty Ltd, Watson Pharma Pty Ltd and Ascent Pharma Pty Ltd.

The full reasoning of the court will be apparent when the written judgment is published shortly. This decision is a win for the generics pharmaceutical companies who will be able to continue to market and sell their respective Rosuvastatin products.