Icos, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Vivus reproductive news

A judge in the U.K. Court of Appeal, London upheld a lower court's ruling that found invalid a U.K. patent owned by PFE covering the use of phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) (see BioCentury, Nov. 8, 2000). In December, PFE tried to reinstate the patent, which was being challenged by LLY's and ICOS's joint venture, Lilly Icos. PFE said the litigation does not involve the patent covering its Viagra sildenafil PDE-5 inhibitor, which is valid in the U.K. until 2013. Lilly Icos is developing its Cialis tadalafil PDE-5 inhibitor, which is under review in the U.S. and EU, to treat sexual dysfunction. ...