Acorda loses appeal to shield Ampyra from generic entry

Acorda Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:ACOR) fell $6.75 (25%) to $20.80 Monday after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld a 2017 district court ruling that leaves multiple sclerosis drug Ampyra dalfampridine with no patent protection against generic competition.

That 2017 ruling, from the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, invalidated on grounds of obviousness four Orange Book-listed patents covering Ampyra, the last of which was set to expire in May 2027. The patents -- U.S. Patent Nos. 8,007,826; 8,663,685; 8,354,437; and 8,440,703 -- covered use of a 10 mg dose of the formulation to treat walking impairments in MS patients (see "Acorda Plummets After Court Invalidates Ampyra Patents")...