Cipla loses US court appeal over animal healthcare product

Drug firm Cipla today said it has lost an appeal in a US court over a patent case against Merial Ltd regarding an animal healthcare product.The company had moved the US Court of Appeals in Washington against a ruling by District Court Georgia that held that the company’s sales of animal healthcare product, PetArmor Plus infringed a patent held by Merial Ltd, a subsidiary of Sanofi-Aventis, and suspended sales of the product in the US.

“Company has now received an order from the Federal Circuit wherein it has affirmed the order of the District Court with two judges ruling against the company and one judge in favour of the company,” Cipla said in a filing to BSE.

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The company is examining options for preferring an appeal against the aforesaid Federal Circuit order, Cipla said. The District Court is yet to determine the financial implication of the District Court order dated June 21, 2011, it added.

Shares of Cipla today closed at Rs 308.55 on BSE, down 0.13 per cent from its previous close

PTI