Reports: Israeli Teva's Fosamax Lawsuit Win Has Threats

Israeli media sources report that Teva's successful challenge to a patent on US drug major Merck's Fosamax Weekly, a blockbuster osteoporosis treatment, may not allow the company to gain exclusivity on the first generic launch for the drug. The reports cite research from US investment bank Merrill Lynch, which indicates that although Teva would be able to launch the drug after Merck's paediatric exclusivity period ends in February 2008, other generics makers who have filed earlier applications could gain US FDA approval first. The estimates implied that if this took place, Teva's potential revenue on the drug could be reduced by up to US$75mn, to US$125mn.