Pfizer secures deals to keep heart drug free of generic rivals until 2031

April 28 (Reuters) - Pfizer said on Tuesday ​it has ‌settled patent disputes with three generic drugmakers over its blockbuster ⁠heart drug Vyndamax, effectively extending its patent ⁠protection until 2031 and ​delaying cheaper copies from entering the market.

The deals resolve patent infringement lawsuits against Dexcel Pharma, Hikma Pharmaceuticals and Cipla in Delaware ​federal ‌court over Pfizer's oral drug Vyndamax. A trial over the patent had started this week.

Pfizer sold nearly $6.4 billion of Vyndamax and related drugs, which treat a serious ​heart condition called transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM), in 2025.

The settlements extend ‌U.S. patent protection for Vyndamax until June 1, 2031, subject to other pending litigation.

The ‌company had previously expected a sharp drop in U.S. revenue for the drug in 2029, but now expects sales ​to hold relatively steady from 2028 through mid-2031.

JP Morgan analyst Chris ‌Schott said in a research note that in light of the drugmaker's other impending patent expirations, which include some of ⁠its other ⁠top selling drugs like blood thinner ‌Eliquis and cancer drug Ibrance, the settlement "should smooth out the company’s late-2020s ​earnings profile ​and give Pfizer additional time for pipeline ‌development."

Shares of Pfizer were up slightly in late morning trading. (Reporting by Kamal Choudhury in Bengaluru and MIchael Erman in New Jersey; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)

Pfizer

Hikma Pharmaceuticals