Viagra patent upheld

NEW YORK — Pfizer announced that the patent for its popular erectile dysfunction treatment was upheld in court.

The drug maker said that the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia concluded that Pfizer's patent for Viagra was valid and enforceable and prevents generic drug maker Teva from marketing its version of the drug until October 2019. Pfizer noted that litigation on the same patent remains pending against other generic companies, but no trials are scheduled in those other cases.

The court's decision, however, is subject to appeal by Teva.