The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on Friday found a key patent of Novartis’ Entresto valid, reversing a lower court ruling and potentially putting up a short-lived roadblock to generic versions of the company’s blockbuster heart drug.
Judge Alan Lourie wrote in an
opinion
that the district court “clearly erred,” and that Novartis’ patent claims contained an adequate written description. Viatris, MSN Pharmaceuticals and other generics firms asserted that they lacked an adequate description.
“We will work to appropriately enforce the combination patent through its pediatric exclusivity period expiring in July 2025,” Novartis said in a
statement
on Monday.
The reversal in favor of the Swiss company adds fresh scrutiny on when exactly the generics from Viatris and others might launch. The FDA approved Entresto generics in May 2024, and analysts at Leerink Partners last November estimated generics could launch sometime this year.
That launch time will be crucial as Entresto, first FDA-approved in 2015, is one of Novartis’ top-selling drugs, bringing in more than $6 billion in 2023 sales.
In addition to generics, beginning in 2026, Entresto will have to deal with its new, government-
negotiated
price. Entresto will face a 53% price discount in Medicare, going from a list price of $698 to $295 for 60 tablets.