Zegerid patents ruled invalid

A federal court in Delaware finds five patents on Zegerid prescription proton pump inhibitor invalid due to obviousness, likely also removing a hurdle for private label versions of Zegerid OTC (omeprazole/sodium bicarbonate), just launched by Merck/Schering-Plough. Par Pharmaceuticals filed the patent challenge after submitting abbreviated new drug applications to FDA in 2007 for generic Zegerid, the drug's originator Santarus said April 14. According to FDA's Orange Book, Merck has no period of market exclusivity for Zegerid OTC, approved for sale in December 2009 (1"The Tan Sheet" Dec. 7, 2009). A spokesman for Perrigo, which would likely be among the first to pursue a Zegerid OTC generic, said once patents are overcome, ANDA approval will take approximately two years