A federal court in Pittsburgh upheld Pfizer Inc.'s U.S. patent covering the active ingredient in Norvasc, which is used for treating hypertension. Mylan Laboratories tried to cash in on the billion dollar drug by making a generic version, which was said to infringe on Pfizer's patent. The decision, which Mylan plans to appeal, prohibits them from launching a generic version of the active ingredient amlodipine until September.

Today Mylan announced the launch of Quinapril Tablets and Quinapril HCl and HCTZ Tablets, generic versions of Pfizer's Accupril and Accuretic Tablets, respectively. Quinapril is used to treat hypertension and heart failure. The Quinapril Tablets had U.S. sales of approximately $193 million for 2006, while Quinapril HCl and HCTZ Tablets had U.S. sales of approximately $37 million.
— Baz Hiralal

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