Takeda Pharmaceutical Company has won the patent infringement case against Ranbaxy in US for Actos (pioglitazone HCl).
A federal judge of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled on February 21, 2006, that a patent covering the active ingredient of Actos is valid and enforceable. Accordingly the US FDA cannot approve any generic versions of Actos till Takeda's patent expires in 2011.
Takeda had also filed patent infringement actions against Mylan Pharmaceuticals and Watson Pharmaceuticals, in October 2003, and against Alphapharm Pty in March 2004.
Takeda, located in Osaka, Japan, is a research-based global company with its main focus on pharmaceuticals.