Lilly's Evista patents upheld in appeals court ruling

INDIANAPOLIS Eli Lilly's method-of-use patents for its osteoporosis drug were declared valid by a federal court of appeals.

The drug maker said the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has affirmed a prior ruling by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana that the company's patents for Evista (raloxifene HCl tablets) are valid.

"Protection of intellectual property rights is extremely important to the biopharmaceutical industry and the patients we serve. We will continue to vigorously defend our rights, in order to support the development of the next generation of innovative medicines," said Robert Armitage, SVP and general counsel for Lilly.