Court in Germany finds SEROQUEL XR® formulation patent invalid

AstraZeneca today announced that the Federal Patent Court in Germany has found the formulation patent protecting SEROQUEL XR® (quetiapine fumarate) prolonged-release tablets – marketed as SEROQUEL Prolong in Germany – to be invalid. The patent was challenged by Accord Healthcare Limited, Hexal AG and TEVA Deutschland GmbH.

The Federal Patent Court decision is limited to Germany and is not binding in other countries. AstraZeneca is engaged in numerous other proceedings regarding SEROQUEL XR®-related patents and regulatory exclusivity for SEROQUEL XR®. Further updates will be provided on a quarterly basis as part of the company’s earnings report.

Total sales of SEROQUEL XR® in Germany for the ten months ended 31 October 2012 were $82 million.

AstraZeneca is disappointed with the court’s decision. The company remains committed to defending its intellectual property protecting SEROQUEL XR®.