EPO Rules European Nexium Process Patent Valid

EPO Rules European Nexium Process Patent Valid

EPO Rules European Nexium Process Patent Valid 

AstraZeneca today announced that the European Patent Office (EPO) Opposition
Division has ruled that the European process patent EP 0773940 for Nexium is
valid in amended form, despite an opposition by the German generic manufacturer
ratiopharm. The patent has been upheld as granted with regards to claims 1 and
2. Regarding claims 3 and 4, minor amendments have been made.

The EP 0773940 patent for Nexium covers a process for the manufacturing of
esomeprazole and its salts in Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark,
Spain, France, UK, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia and Sweden. This
positive decision by the EPO means that this patent in its amended form still
covers the manufacturing process for NexiumÒ. This patent expires in 2015.

AstraZeneca has confidence in the intellectual property portfolio protecting
Nexium.  This portfolio includes additional patents with expiration dates
ranging from 2009 through to 2018. In addition to these patents, Nexium has data
exclusivity valid until March 2010 in most major European markets. 

AstraZeneca will vigorously defend and enforce its intellectual property rights
protecting Nexium.

Worldwide Nexium sales reached $ 5.2 billion in 2006. Europe accounted for $1.2
billion.

-Ends-
9th October 2007

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