Shire will be celebrating a US Court of Appeals judgement that validates patent protection for its attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder blockbuster Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine).
Generic drugmakers Actavis, Amneal, Mylan, Roxane and Sandoz were moving to launch copycat versions of the drug, prompting Shire to file a stream of patent infringement suits between 2011 and 2012.
But now the Appeals Court has backed a previous District Court ruling in June last year rejecting claims Shire’s patents for Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) are invalid, effectively preventing the launch of copycat versions until its patents expire in 2023.
Shire said it is “extremely pleased” with the outcome, but also noted that the decision could still be appealed.
Vyvanse is approved in the US for treatment of ADHD and binge eating.
