Alkermes Brushes Off IP Pressures To Look to Potential Blockbuster Vivitrol

Alkermes PLC has come out just about evens from a couple of recent US court rulings on IP protection involving other companies that potentially also affect the Ireland-headquartered specialty company. And with its marketed products showing progress, Alkermes expects total revenues, including royalties and product sales, to increase by 20% in 2017, led by the addiction therapy, Vivitrol (naltrexone).

Alkermes manufactures Acorda Therapeutics Inc.’s multiple sclerosis therapy Ampyra (dalfampridine) and receives royalties on sales, but a US district court has just ruled that four of Acorda’s US patents on the drug are invalid because of obviousness, leaving Acorda with IP protection only until 2018