Lawsuit involving Lipitor

The Public Patent Foundation filed suit against Pfizer over a patent covering Lipitor after Pfizer announced earlier in September 2004 that it filed lawsuits against 18 Internet sites selling generic versions of Lipitor, which are typically manufactured overseas.

In its lawsuits, Pfizer listed just one of its five patents on Lipitor. The Public Patent Foundation asserts the claims of this patent are invalid because the claims are not patentably distinguishable in view of claims in older patents that would expire as early as 2010.