Symbicort patent blow for AstraZeneca

The European Patent Office's Technical Board of Appeal has made a final ruling that the European patent for Anglo-Swedish drug major AstraZeneca's Symbicort (formoterol and budesonide), patent EPB0613371, has been revoked, following an appeal from a group of generic manufacturers, namely Liconsa, Miat, Generics UK and Norton Heatlhcare. However, parties to the proceedings, says AstraZeneca, are also the additional opponents: Chiesi Farmaceutici and Zambon of Italy, and Yamanouchi Europe, part of the like-named Japanese group. No further appeal is possible.

Expressing disappointment with news, the drug major's chief executive, David Brennan, said: "we do not believe that the EPO decision will have an immediate impact in the European Union or any impact on the USA or Japanese patents. In fact, with the recent launch of Symbicort SMART in Europe, we have a tremendous opportunity to transform the way asthma is managed, providing patients and physicians with important option in controlling asthma."