Executive Summary

A preliminary injunction halting sales of generic Plavix by Apotex has been upheld by Washington, D.C. Federal Appeals Court, Sanofi-Aventis and Bristol-Myers Squibb announce Dec. 8. The ruling affirms the Aug. 31 decision by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York granting Sanofi/Bristol's motion for a preliminary injunction enjoining Apotex from infringing Sanofi's patent by selling generic clopidogrel (1"The Pink Sheet" Sept. 4, 2006, p. 3). Sanofi/Bristol filed the motion for preliminary injunction Aug. 15 in response to Apotex' Aug. 8 "at risk" launch. Apotex said it is considering further review of the lower court decision. The trial on the underlying patent infringement dispute is scheduled to begin Jan. 22...