The U.S. Court of Appeals has again ruled that Teva Pharmaceuticals Ltd.’s patent for its blockbuster multiple-sclerosis treatment Copaxone is invalid. 

A spokesperson said that Teva is “committed to pursuing all legal pathways including seeking further appellate review.” 

In January, the U.S. Supreme Court had reversed an appeals-court ruling that had invalidated Teva’s patent for Copaxone, which generated more than $3.1 billion in sales in the U.S. last year. It said that the Federal Circuit must be more deferential in reviewing certain factual determinations made by trial judges, and sent the case back to lower courts. The Copaxone patent was set to expire Sept. 1. 

In April, the Food & Drug Administration approved a generic version of Copaxone that allowed Momenta Pharmaceuticals and the Sandoz unit of Novartis AG, who are collaborating on the drug, to sell a knockoff version. Thursday afternoon, Sandoz announced the launch of its generic version of Copaxone, Glatopa, in the U.S. Momenta shares rose 2.7% to $25.08 in after-hours trading.

For more details, go to: http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-court-again-strikes-down-tevas-copaxone-patent-1434647434