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22 March 2004

GSK loses patent challenge on Seretide in UK

A judge has allowed a challenge from a number of generic manufacturers to a patent held by GlaxoSmithKline covering the combination of salmeterol and fluticasone (Seretide). The patent runs until 2013, but was challenged in the High Court on the grounds of being obvious. GSK is considering an appeal, and the individual drugs themselves are covered by patents until March and October next year, but this opens the possibility of generic Seretide in 2005.

From Reuters Health for 19th March 2004