British court deals blow to Allergan's Botox patent claims

London — A British high court dealt Allergan a substantial blow recently when the court revoked the patent for Botox. According to British news reports, the pharmaceutical company now faces a worldwide battle to retain the trademark for the drug.

Allergan owns a patent portfolio for Botox, which according to reports is under attack in a number of jurisdictions. One report quoted a UK patent specialist not connected with the case as saying the judgment “reveals a naked commercial attempt by Allergan to prolong and expand its monopoly rights over Botox” and said rival pharmaceutical company Basic Research/Klein-Becker has retained a law firm to coordinate a multinational trademark dispute aimed at revoking the Botox trademark.

At press time, a UK trial was scheduled to get under way.