Pfizer Inc said the Court of Appeal of Barcelona has upheld the company's enantiomer patent covering the calcium salt of atorvastatin, the active ingredient in Lipitor, reversing the lower court decision. The enantiomer patent expires in July 2010.

The patent was challenged jointly by generic companies Laboratorios Cinfa S.A., Kern Pharma S.L., Laboratorios Alter S.A. and Laboratorios Belmac S.A., and is one of four separate challenges to the enantiomer patent by generic companies in Spain. Lipitor is sold in Spain under the brand names Zarator and Cardyl.

"This is a victory not only for Pfizer, but for all innovators pursuing high-risk medical discoveries and for the patients who benefit from those discoveries," said Peter C. Richardson, senior vice president and associate general counsel, Pfizer.

Cinfa, Kern, Alter and Belmac can seek to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court of Spain.