AstraZeneca entitled to interlocutory injunction
ASTRAZENECA ENTITLED TO INTERLOCUTORY* INJUNCTION TO PREVENT MARKETING OF A GENERIC VERSION OF OMEPRAZOLE IN ISRAEL AstraZeneca today announced that the Tel Aviv District Court has held that AstraZeneca is entitled to an interlocutory injunction in Israel based on the formulation patent, to prevent Dexcel Ltd. from marketing a generic omeprazole product. Omeprazole is the substance used in Losec®. The interlocutory injunction will not come into effect until the Supreme Court in Israel has considered Dexcel's application for leave to appeal. * Provisional NOTE TO NEWS EDITORS The substance patent for omeprazole began expiry in the first countries in 1999. In most countries AstraZeneca has been granted Patent Term Extensions or Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPCs). This extended coverage expires in the US in April 2001, in most European countries in 2002 - 2004, and in Japan in 2004. The product is also protected by patents directed to formulation, uses, intermediates and processes. Further Enquiries: Media: Staffan Ternby, tel +46 8 553 261 07 Steve Brown, tel +44 171 304 5033 Lucy Williams, tel +44 171 304 5034 Investor Relations: Staffan Ternby, tel +46 8 553 261 07 Michael Olsson, tel +44 171 304 5087 Elizabeth Sutton, tel +44 171 304 5101 Jörgen Winroth, tel +1 609 896 4148 Ed Seage, tel +1 302 886 4065 ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/11/17/19991117BIT00180/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/11/17/19991117BIT00180/bit0002.pdf