Allergan wins ruling in patent case

TEL AVIV (MarketWatch) -- Allergan Inc. won a ruling in federal court that its patents on Alphagan, which lowers pressure in the eye in patients with open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension, were infringed.

The ruling came in US District Court in Wilmington, Del., in Allergan's patent-infringement suit against Exela of India and Apotex of Canada, Allergan said in a statement late on Friday.

The court ruled that five patents asserted by Allergan against the defendants' proposed generic versions of the drug were valid and enforceable, the Irvine, Calif., producer of pharmaceuticals and medical devices focused on eye care said.

With the ruling, the US Food and Drug Administration must delay clearance of the defendants' proposed generic versions of Alphagan, generically brimonidine, until the last of the patents expire, in 2022, Allergan said.