In November, Novartis asked the FDA to extend the review period for Galvus by three months to allow the Lipitor patent expiration agency to examine new clinical trials data. As 2005 saw a decline in the number of NCEs approved down to 18 from 23 in 2004, there is clear evidence that the loss of revenue from patent-protected drugs will impact upon the growth of the industry when so few new drugs are reaching the market. Lyrica is entering a genericized market since its predecessor, Neurontin, is experiencing generic competition and managed care may try to limit access to Lyrica. The decision — which resulted from a patent challenge by generic manufacturers Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited and Basics GmbH — has no immediate commercial impact because neither company has regulatory approval to sell a generic atorvastatin product in Germany, and because Pfizer’s basic patent covering atorvastatin remains in force, and expires after the enantiomer patent. We’ve (already) announced the first step with a reduction lipitor patent expiration in our sales force, Kindler said on CNBC. After all, why is it that all of us go license products from small biotechnology companies? (Source: Business Week) I WHAT HAS MERCK done to deserve this? Plenty, say its critics. Disclaimer: Past performance does lipitor patent expiration not guarantee future results. Roche is developing a similar compound-slated for approval in 2009-as is Merck. Pfizer wasn’t immune to the troubles linked to COX-2 inhibitor drugs, which were Lipitor patent expiration first identified with Merck’s Vioxx. Our data indicate that for physicians, it’s not just a matter of getting patients’ LDL lowered. It dipped below $26 a share last week after having been battered over the last month lipitor patent expiration by growing evidence of cardiac risks tied to Celebrex, the company’s COX-2 painkiller. David Risinger, CFA Merrill Lynch The world’s biggest pharmaceuticals company, Pfizer, has suffered a devastating blow after being forced to abandon the development lipitor patent expiration of a new blockbuster cholesterol drug because of the high number of patients who have died during trials. Celebrex revenues catapulted 24 percent to $1. 01 billion, and sales of pain lipitor patent expiration reliever Bextra widened 57 percent to $417 million. Sandoz and Teva could be the beneficiaries of this growth, says the report. That certainly wouldn’t solve all of Merck’s problems, says Ryan, but it would probably move the ball forward by enhancing short-term earnings and improving the top-line outlook. -Matthew Arnold EDITOR’S DESK There hasn’t been much good news coming out of Pfizer in the past couple of years. Two drugs, Celebrex and Bextra, were affected. "This is a victory not only for Pfizer, but for all innovators pursuing high-risk medical discoveries and for the patients who benefit lipitor patent expiration from those discoveries," said Pfizer Senior Vice President and Associate General Counsel Peter C. Pfizer didn’t have many years, however.